Specialty Coffee - Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Washed Yabo Fruit and Floral Flavor Introduction

FrontStreet Coffee - Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Kochere Able Washed Introduction

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Geographic and Regional Overview

Under the ECX (Ethiopia Commodity Exchange) regional classification system, Kochere is one of the four sub-regions of Yirgacheffe (namely Yirgacheffe, Wenago, Gelena Abaya, and Kochere). Administratively, the Kochere region covers two Woredas: Kochere Woreda itself and Gedeb. Located at the southern end of the greater Yirgacheffe region, Kochere and Gedeb form two major pillars, one in the west and one in the east.

Historically, Gedeb was originally an independent Woreda that separated from Kochere, so it's not surprising that they are classified within the same region.

Due to the frequent emergence of Worka Kebele within Gedeb Woreda, the specialty coffee community has recognized Gedeb as an independent micro-region at the same level as Kochere. Kochere town is located in the Gedeo region of southern Ethiopia, a small sub-region situated about 25 kilometers southeast of Yirgacheffe town. The cultivation altitude ranges from 1,750 to 2,100 meters, and the coffee varieties are primarily a mix of Typica and local Heirloom varieties.

Coffee Production and Processing

The coffee beans come from local small-scale coffee farmers, collectively comprising numerous individual small farmers with an average coffee cultivation area of about 1 hectare. The main local production model involves small coffee farmers directly delivering their harvested red cherries to nearby cooperative washing stations for unified processing.

In the 1970s, Ethiopia introduced washed processing technology. Currently, green bean processing in the Kochere region is predominantly washed, but natural processing also achieves high-quality standards. After sorting and grading the red cherry-colored coffee fruits, the processing plant removes any unripe fruits that float on water, collects the sinking red cherries, and then places the parchment coffee on racks for natural sun-drying. When the moisture content reaches 12% or below, the beans are directly sent to the ECX warehouse in Awassa.

Coffee Specifications

Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Kochere Able Washed

Flavor: Apple, black tea, orange blossom, nectarine

Altitude: 1,900 meters

Region: Yirgacheffe Kochere

Variety: Ethiopian Heirloom

Processing Method: Washed

Roast Level: Light roast

Additional Knowledge

Today, the largest town, village, or settlement in the Kochere region is Yirgacheffe. Yirgacheffe is located about 18 kilometers southwest of Yirgacheffe town in a straight line distance and is considered a relatively large settlement with a population of approximately 100,000 people.