Shakisso: A Hidden Gem in Ethiopia's Guji Micro-Regions

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FrontStreet Coffee - Shakiso Coffee Introduction

Shakiso, located in Guji in the Oromia region of southern Ethiopia and adjacent to Sidama and Gedeo, is a unique producing area within Guji. The land is dotted with mining pits originally dug for gold, so there are many open pits across this coffee growing area — which makes simply walking between the coffee plots a dangerous undertaking.

Coffee from Shakiso has considerable individuality, and its beans have repeatedly caught the market's attention. The legendary bean Nekisse from Ninety Plus originally meant "Nectar from Shakiso" — both its producing area and its name come from Shakiso.

Guji has two major advantages that even Yirgacheffe cannot match!

The first is the single processing station/estate system. The rare single-estate model, hardly seen elsewhere in Ethiopia, exists in Guji, and more and more custom-processed batches keep appearing!

The other is the high-altitude climate advantage. The Guji producing area starts at altitudes of at least 2,000 meters, with excellent quality. The higher the altitude, the harder and denser the coffee beans grow, and the more uniquely they can express their flavors.

In addition, local smallholder farmers have been growing organic coffee since 2001, cooperating with medium-sized producers and foreign companies on technology. The right timing, the right place, and the right people have made this area shine.

At current prices, buying coffee from this emerging producing area is well worth it. Guji offers not only high altitudes but also outstanding value for money — one of the emerging origins not to be missed!

Guji Uraga

Origin: Ethiopia

Grade: Grade 1

Variety: Heirloom

Altitude: 1,950-2,300m

Geographic Region: Sidamo, Guji

Processing Method: Washed

Flavor Description: Jasmine, clove, bright lemon acidity, gingerbread-like sweetness.

Knowledge point: Shakisso (sometimes also spelled Shakiso) is one of the most noteworthy micro-producing areas within the broader Sidamo producing region.

In short: FrontStreet Coffee is a coffee research hall, happy to share coffee knowledge with everyone. We share without reservation simply to let more friends fall in love with coffee, and every month there are 3 discounted coffee activities, because FrontStreet Coffee wants more friends to drink the best coffee at the lowest price — a principle FrontStreet Coffee has held for 6 years!

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation: From Guji's High Valleys to the Classic Washed Yirgacheffe

Drawn to Guji's jasmine-and-lemon character? Then FrontStreet Coffee's washed Yirgacheffe daily bean is the perfect companion. Yirgacheffe, a small town in Ethiopia's southern Sidamo province at roughly 1,700-2,100 meters (with coffee planted above 1,800 meters), is renowned for its unmistakable white floral notes and citrus-lemon acidity — so distinctive that in 2010 the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange formally separated it from Sidamo as its own designation. Roasted to a gentle medium-light, the cup reads like a clean, elegant lemon tea with a soft tea-like finish. To brew it as FrontStreet Coffee does: a V60 dripper, 15g of coffee at a 1:15 ratio, 90-91°C water, a fine-sugar grind (80% through a #20 sieve, or EK43s setting 10). Bloom with 30g of water for 30 seconds, pour to 125g, then finish with the remaining 100g to 225g, drawing out at 2:00-2:10.