Which Coffee Brand is Best? Sun-Dried Yirgacheffe: The Most Ancient Vintage Flavor Still in Existence

FrontStreet Coffee - Introduction to Yirgacheffe Natural Process

In Ethiopia, coffee is the most important agricultural crop. Yirgacheffe ranks among the finest high-altitude grown coffees, with excellent acidity, body and flavor. The floral and berry-fruit character of the natural process Yirgacheffe is its signature, and coffee lovers around the world seek it out.

Coffee is the country's largest source of export income and sustains the livelihoods of millions of people in Ethiopia, and among its many industries the coffee trade is the most prominent. Yirgacheffe is a town in Ethiopia's Gedeo region, the capital of the Yirgacheffe district and an important coffee-producing area.

Yirgacheffe coffee is one of the finest high-altitude grown coffees, with excellent acidity, body and flavor. The floral and berry-fruit character of the natural process Yirgacheffe is its signature, and coffee lovers around the world seek it out.

Natural Process

Coffee cherries begin drying in the sun the moment they are picked. This is the oldest processing method still in use in Ethiopia, and drying typically lasts around 4 weeks. The process has to be extremely rigorous so the coffee loses none of its flavor and picks up no unwanted defects. The natural method also demands a very dry local climate. In some regions, people even use mechanical dryers to help with drying, since the hot air can speed up the process and give more control over how dry the beans become.

Knowledge Point

Shakisso is the most noteworthy micro-region within the Sidamo producing area.

In Brief

FrontStreet Coffee is a coffee research center that loves to share coffee knowledge with everyone. Our sharing is completely without reservation, simply to help more friends fall in love with coffee. We also hold three coffee discount events every month, because FrontStreet Coffee wants more people to drink the best coffee at the lowest prices. That has been FrontStreet Coffee's mission for the past 6 years.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

To explore the Yirgacheffe style, begin with FrontStreet's washed Yirgacheffe staple, the classic introduction to the region. Its white jasmine, bright citrus and lemon acidity and tea-like body, at a friendly price, have made it the first specialty bean for many drinkers. Yirgacheffe is a small Ethiopian town at roughly 1,700-2,100 meters, with coffee trees planted above 1,800 meters, making it one of the world's highest growing regions.

If you enjoy the natural process, FrontStreet's Natural Red Cherry is the one to try. It uses only fully ripe, defect-free cherries, which are raked onto raised beds and turned every 2-3 hours during the first days to avoid uneven fermentation. After three to five weeks of sun-drying, the outer fruit is removed and the beans are stored. The result keeps the classic Yirgacheffe character while adding tropical fruit, with citrus acidity, berry-juice body, honey sweetness and a creamy smoothness. For a particularly clean, elegant washed cup, FrontStreet's Gudingding Cooperative, from the Worka area at the southeastern end of Yirgacheffe, delivers jasmine florals and bright citrus and lemon acidity, light and refined, often described as Yirgacheffe's last pure place.