Is Yirgacheffe Aricha Coffee Delicious? How to Drink Yirgacheffe Coffee and Its Origin

FrontStreet Coffee - Ethiopia Aricha Coffee

Buna, the Amharic word for coffee, was discovered in Ethiopia hundreds of years ago. Coffee trees were carried to other parts of the world from there, marking the beginning of coffee's global story. In Ethiopia, coffee remains a sacred commodity, and people roast it at home every day. Practically every Ethiopian citizen is a coffee roaster, or has at least been exposed to coffee roasting.

Aricha is the name of the washing station where this coffee is processed. Idido is a village, also known as a kebele, sitting in a small area within Yirgacheffe where this FrontStreet Coffee Yirgacheffe Aricha is grown and processed. Aricha lies approximately 8 kilometers from the center of Yirgacheffe town. This coffee matures between November and January, is pulped within 12 hours, and is thoroughly washed with spring water. The soil here is reddish-brown clay roughly 1.5 meters deep. FrontStreet Coffee has a special relationship with the producer in this Yirgacheffe area, making this coffee exclusive in the UK and quite rare.

Origin and Quality

FrontStreet Coffee's Aricha coffee originates from the Gediyo region within the Yirgacheffe area, at an altitude of 2,200 meters.

Ethiopian Yirgacheffe coffee ranks among the finest coffees in the world. After harvesting, it is typically graded by a panel of judges on a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being the highest grade.

FrontStreet Coffee carries only Grade 1 stock of this coffee, placing it among the highest-quality coffees in the world. These beans score nearly 90 points, putting them in the top 0.01% of premium coffees globally.

Tasting Notes

Thanks to its strict production methods, this coffee is incredibly aromatic and rich. It is Grade 1 coffee, symbolizing extra-meticulous preparation and harvesting, and it yields a bold, intense fruit character with mango and peach notes in the cup. It is sweet and vibrant with a smooth mouthfeel, leaving you captivated by its tropical floral, apricot, and caramel flavors.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

Aricha's rare Grade 1 profile, with its mango, peach, and tropical floral notes, sits right at the top of what Yirgacheffe can offer, and FrontStreet Coffee carries several lots that explore the same region from different angles. The FrontStreet Washed Yirgacheffe is the classic introduction, known for white jasmine, bright citrus and lemon acidity, and a tea-like body at an accessible price. The FrontStreet Natural Red Cherry, dried whole on raised beds, adds tropical fruit and honeyed sweetness to the region's citrus-like acidity and creamy texture. For a more focused, floral expression, the FrontStreet Gutingting Cooperative lot delivers citrus, lemon, and elegant white florals with a clean, precise finish.