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Coffee Varieties in Ethiopia's Sidamo Region: Diverse Characteristics of Sidamo Coffee Beans

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Professional coffee knowledge exchange, more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account: cafe_style). FrontStreet Coffee - Introduction to Sidamo Coffee: Sidamo, also known as Sidama, is the region with the highest coffee production in Ethiopia. Before the new constitution was enacted in 1995, it was an independent

FrontStreet Coffee - Sidamo Coffee Introduction

Sidamo, also known as Sidama, is Ethiopia's highest coffee-producing region. Before the new constitution was enacted in 1995, it was an independent province. Today, the region is divided into three administrative areas: the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (SNNPR), Somali, and Oromia. The Guji and Yirgacheffe coffee micro-regions are also located within Sidamo but are sold under their own names.

Sidamo is a large region in southern Ethiopia, home to Sidamo farmers. The Sidama Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union is merely a farmers' alliance; they still make their living from growing, harvesting, and selling coffee. There are over 80,000 independent farmers in this union alone. Fair trade, USDA organic, and other certifications are readily available for Sidamo coffee.

Coffee production in this region is deeply intertwined with their culture. Coffee cultivation, harvesting, and processing methods have been passed down through generations. Sidamo boasts a rich coffee culture and a long history, making Sidamo coffee more fascinating than Brazilian coffee.

Nearly the entire Sidamo region is high-altitude in the strictest sense, with coffee growing at elevations between 1,600 to 1,900 meters. This means the coffee here has a longer growth time before ripening and harvesting compared to the average.

Different soil types, microclimates, and countless native coffee varieties characterize the region. Towering mountains, highlands, plateaus, valleys, and plains create diverse topography. The area's geology consists of nutrient-rich, well-drained volcanic soil with depths reaching nearly two meters. The surface soil appears dark brown or brown.

The region's greatest advantage lies in maintaining soil fertility through the recycling of organic matter, using withered leaves from surrounding trees or residual plant roots as fertilizer. This results in coffee produced in different towns having distinct characteristics and qualities. From 2010 to 2012, it consistently achieved high scores of 92-94 from the authoritative American coffee evaluation website CR. This demonstrates the exceptional quality of green beans from this producing region.

The climate in this region is humid tropical... Unfortunately, due to climate change and global warming, Sidamo's climate is gradually changing. The extent and speed of climate change can only be estimated, but it will undoubtedly affect the growth and flavor of coffee here. We can only hope this will be a positive impact.

Knowledge Point: High-quality coffee cherries generally have good shade coverage. Tree shade can block the high-temperature midday sun, slow down coffee's metabolism, and contribute to the development of nutrients, fruit acids, and aromatic substances.

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