Which Coffee Beans are Best for Pour-Over: Sidamo Washed Hero with Tropical Fruit Aroma and Bright Acidity

FrontStreet Coffee - Introduction to Ethiopia Washed Hero Coffee

During the harvest and processing season (December-January), Hero's distinctive flavor comes from its unique growing environment and natural climate. The sugar content of the harvested red cherries must reach over 30 before sun drying begins. During the first two days of sun drying, the moisture of the red cherries is maintained so their fruit sugars can fully ferment. At the same time, the high-altitude location lets the station's nighttime temperature drop to around 12°C, preventing over-fermentation odors caused by excessive heat.

During midday, when temperatures are higher, shading is provided in time to prevent sun damage to the red cherries. Only fully red, completely ripe cherries are selected, all hand-picked and dried on African raised beds. The cherry layer is kept thin and turned regularly around the clock to ensure even sun drying and ventilation, allowing more precise control of the fermentation degree.

At night, thick plastic covers protect against sudden rainfall. This lets the red cherries ferment and dehydrate at relatively low temperatures. After 18 days of sun drying, when the moisture content of the green beans drops to around 13%, sun drying is stopped and the beans are bagged. They are then stored in warehouses under natural conditions of 12-22°C and 40-50% humidity for about 50 days for bean resting and further dehydration. When the moisture content of the green beans reaches around 10%, they are transported to the processing station for hulling, screening, and sale.

Ethiopia · Hero · Washed (Ethiopia·Hero Sorsa·Washed)

Origin: Guji, Hambella Wamena region, Dimtu city, Haro soresa estate

Variety: Heirloom, Ethiopian native varieties

Altitude: 2000-2150m

Variety: Heirloom

Processing Method: Washed

Roast Level: Light

Flavor Notes: Red grapefruit, tropical fruits, cherry, apricot, high sweetness, juicy mouthfeel

2016/17 Ethiopia National Taste of Harvest competition runner-up (first place in the washed category)

2016/2017 harvest season Ethiopia coffee competition runner-up

Knowledge Extension

Arabica has many subspecies, all derived from Ethiopia's oldest Typica and Yemen's Bourbon after being transplanted to Central and South America or Asia and undergoing varietal evolution.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

Hero comes from the Hambella area of Guji, and FrontStreet Ethiopia Huakui shares that same origin. Huakui is one of the most successful stars of the specialty coffee market in recent years, prized for its intensely tropical aroma: strawberry, passion fruit, jackfruit, and even lychee, with marked sweetness, very low bitterness, and a smooth, juicy body. Its farm covers 200 hectares and uses traditional sun drying on raised beds for 21 days. Roasted light-to-medium, it shows a light fermentation-like wine aroma, florals, citrus, and mango, with honeyed sweetness and a long finish.

For another Guji-area expression, FrontStreet Hamashu 74158 focuses on the JARC 74-series disease-resistant varieties released by the Jimma Agricultural Research Center. The 74158 beans are on the smaller side and show prominent floral and fruit notes, with perfume-lemon, strawberry, and star fruit aromas and a clear strawberry, star fruit, and green grape sweetness, followed by delicate florals.