Sidamo Natural Lion King - Astonishing Sweet Peach and Candied Fruit Aroma

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FrontStreet Coffee - Sidamo Lion King Coffee

If Yirgacheffe were Pixar Studios, then Sidamo would be Disneyland — vibrant and full of color. "Lion King" claims its own unique place with shifting floral notes and a sweetness scented of blueberry and lemon. Or perhaps it claims an entire hillside. Even for drinkers used to Ethiopia's native flavors, "Lion King" will astonish you with its striking preserved-peach aroma and confident, full-bodied berry fragrance.

This "Lion King" comes from the Guji region of Sidamo, Ethiopia. Variety: Heirloom — a hybrid of Bourbon and traditional Ethiopian varieties, bred in Scottish laboratories in the 1930s, a typical Kenyan-type variety also grown experimentally in Central and South America. It lacks pest and disease resistance but offers excellent coffee flavor. The trees are planted in fertile volcanic red soil at 1800-2000 m and the lot is classified Grade 1 (G1) washed specialty coffee. It is processed by the washed method, roasted to a medium-light level, and brewed at a 1:15 ratio for an exceptionally rich, layered cup, full of florals and berry sweet-and-sour — a rare specialty bean.

Coffee Details

Region: Sidamo Guji

Coffee Variety: Heirloom (native ancient superior variety)

Altitude: 1800-2000 meters

Grade Standard: G1

Processing Method: Natural

Flavor Profile: Tropical fruits, berries, lemon, floral notes

About the Sidamo Region

Previously we looked at Ethiopia's nine major coffee-producing regions. Today we share a bean from one of them: Sidamo. Sidamo's coffee flavors are incredibly diverse, as different soil types, microclimates and countless native varieties make each town's coffee distinct. From 2010 to 2012 the region consistently received exceptional ratings of 92 and 94 points from the authoritative American review site Coffee Review. The region has nutrient-rich, well-drained volcanic soil, and those fertile nutrients are maintained through the decomposition of natural organic matter. This batch is produced by the Hirsasa Cooperative near Dilla town. The cooperative was established in 1976 and is currently a member of the Sidamo Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union.

About FrontStreet Coffee

In brief, FrontStreet Coffee is a coffee research house that delights in sharing coffee knowledge with everyone. We share without reservation, simply hoping more friends will fall in love with coffee. We also hold three coffee discount events monthly, because FrontStreet Coffee wants more friends to enjoy the best coffee at the lowest possible prices. That has been FrontStreet Coffee's mission for the past six years.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

Fruity, aromatic natural Sidamo like this Lion King is a wonderful introduction to Ethiopia, and FrontStreet Coffee's Huakui is a great place to begin. A local heirloom from the Hambella area of Guji, it is sun-dried in the traditional way and stands out for its tropical fruit — cream strawberry, mango, jackfruit, citrus and blueberry. Sweet, with almost no bitterness and a juicy, smooth body, it has been described by many drinkers as "the coffee that doesn't taste like coffee," and it regularly wins over people who thought they disliked the bitter side of the drink.

To explore the other side of the Yirgacheffe and Sidamo family, FrontStreet Coffee's Washed Yirgacheffe and its Gotingding Cooperative lot keep things bright and clean. The washed Yirgacheffe delivers jasmine, bright citrus and lemon acidity with a tea-like body; Gotingding, from the Woka area, adds elegant white florals and a finely detailed, transparent cup. Brew any of these as a pour-over with 15g of coffee, a 1:15 ratio and 90-91°C water, and the aromatics really open up.