Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Region Gedeo Zone | Aramo Cooperative Fully Washed Local Landrace

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What are the Flavor Characteristics of Fully Washed Ethiopian Heirloom Varietals from the Aramo Cooperative in Yirgacheffe's Gedeo Zone?

The Aramo Cooperative is located in southwestern Ethiopia and can be considered a very typical cooperative in Yirgacheffe. When Aramo was established in 1975, it had only 35 members. Today, it has grown to include 2,254 smallholder farmer members, making it quite substantial in scale. Small farmers typically cultivate around 6,000 coffee trees, interspersed with various food crops such as corn and plantains. These crops not only provide food sources but also serve as shade and windbreaks, while simultaneously functioning as fertilizer, root protection, and preventing soil erosion. Mixed cultivation of two or more crops can indeed improve soil quality. The soil in Aramo is particularly distinctive within the Yirgacheffe region—it is very deep, meaning healthy and strong root systems can develop, allowing coffee trees to grow tall and robust. Additionally, the local soil is rich in iron, which is crucial for chlorophyll production and aids in photosynthesis. In 2002, Aramo joined 22 other cooperatives to establish the "Yirgacheffe Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union" (YCFCU), becoming part of this larger organization.

This represents fully washed batches exported directly by the YCFCU organization. Since the implementation of the ECX system in 2008, most coffee beans have been sold through this bidding process, but cooperatives are not subject to these regulations—they can directly negotiate, set prices, and export with buyers. The Yirgacheffe Coffee Farmers Cooperatives Union (YCFCU) was established in 2002 and currently comprises 24 primary cooperatives with approximately 50,000 farmers in total. In addition to the Aramo Cooperative, well-known cooperatives such as Biloya, Konga, Harfusa, and Worka are all part of the YCFCU. The Aramo Cooperative was established in 1975 and joined YCFCU in 2002. Currently, the Aramo Cooperative has 2,254 members, with each member's cultivation area not exceeding 4 hectares, representing Ethiopia's typical small-scale garden cultivation method. Every one to two years, cooperative members conduct elections to select an executive committee, which can make decisions regarding new equipment purchases, payment methods for transactions with members, and other matters. Additionally, YCFCU assigns professional managers to cooperatives to provide guidance and advice on harvesting and production processes, thereby increasing yield and improving quality. The establishment of cooperatives has enabled farmers to avoid exploitation by buyers offering low prices, and when facing economic difficulties, cooperatives can also provide loan assistance. This is beneficial for both farmers and coffee production.

Coffee Origin Information

Region: Yirgacheffe

Zone: Gedeo

Producer: Aramo Co-operative

Soil: Red-brown soil, with fertile layer thickness of 1.5 meters

Altitude: 1,800-2,000 meters

Processing Method: Fully Washed

Varietals: Ethiopia Heirloom Varietals

Harvest Time: November to January

Flavor Profile: Orange and strawberry aromatics, with apricot, nectarine, and caramel notes

FrontStreet Coffee's Recommended Brewing Method:

Dripper: Hario V60

Water Temperature: 90-91°C

Grind Size: Fuji Royal grinder setting 3.5 (64% pass-through rate on Chinese #20 sieve)

Brewing Technique: Water-to-coffee ratio of 1:15, using 15g of coffee grounds. First pour 25g of water for a 25-second bloom. Second pour to 120g, then pause. Wait until the water level in the coffee bed drops to halfway, then continue pouring slowly until reaching 225g total water. Total extraction time should be approximately 2:00.

Analysis: This three-stage pouring method helps to clearly distinguish the flavor characteristics in the front, middle, and back portions of the extraction. Because the V60 has numerous ribs, its drainage speed is relatively fast, so pausing during pouring can effectively extend the extraction time.

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