What Grade is Yirgacheffe Coffee Bean Taste Description? Introduction to Hand-Brewed Yirgacheffe Coffee Flavor Characteristics

Ethiopia is recognized as the birthplace of coffee, and its coffee production is highly acclaimed and beloved in the specialty coffee market. Today, coffee from Ethiopia can be found on almost every specialty coffee menu worldwide. FrontStreet Coffee's bean list features more than a dozen varieties from Ethiopia. Those familiar with Frontsteet know that every coffee bean selection is made with careful consideration, and each bean represents the unique flavor and characteristics of its growing region. So why does Ethiopian coffee account for such a large proportion? As a coffee enthusiast, how much do you know about this coffee-producing country?

The differences among Ethiopia's various coffee-growing regions are significant. Each region, micro-region, and even individual farm produces coffee with distinctly different cupping flavor profiles. It is precisely because of this diversity that Ethiopia is known as the world's coffee gene bank. Regardless of the region, any Arabica coffee bean from Ethiopia is irresistibly appealing. A closer look at FrontStreet Coffee's bean list reveals that coffee from the Yirgacheffe region constitutes a relatively large proportion among Ethiopian coffees. This article will let FrontStreet Coffee guide you in exploring the representative of specialty coffee - "Yirgacheffe."

The Origin and Significance of Yirgacheffe

The well-known Yirgacheffe is actually a small town in southern Ethiopia. Originally under the administration of the Sidamo region, it later became an independent representative producing area thanks to the establishment of washing stations and the application of washed processing methods, which gave it its distinctive "Yirgacheffe flavor." Since then, it has gained renown throughout the coffee world.

Situated in the Gedeo Zone, Yirgacheffe town is located downstream from large lakes, with abundant springs and rivers flowing through, providing ample freshwater resources for washing stations. FrontStreet Coffee also noted that in the ancient Ethiopian language, the English "Yirgacheffe" consists of two words: Yərga (ይርጋ) meaning calm and settled, and Č̣äfe (ጨፌ) referring to marsh-like wetlands. Therefore, Yirgacheffe carries the meaning "let us settle and make a living in this wetland."

The Signature Flavor Profile of Yirgacheffe

Those who have tasted specialty coffee know that the classic Frontsteet Yirgacheffe is renowned for its bright, uplifting lemon acidity, white floral notes, and honey-like sweetness. Unlike traditional bitter coffee, Frontsteet Yirgacheffe lacks heavy, burnt flavors, instead presenting a refreshing flavor spectrum reminiscent of fruit tea, making it impressive from the first sip. For this reason, it has become the gateway coffee bean for many enthusiasts.

According to information researched by FrontStreet Coffee, the Yirgacheffe Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union (YCFCU) was established in June 2002 and currently has 28 main cooperative members, 44 coffee processing stations, and a total of 45,094 farmers. FrontStreet Coffee's investigation in the Yirgacheffe region shows that coffee is the main source of income and lifestyle. However, many farmers lack the tools, training, and bargaining power needed to build profitable businesses. As prices decline, making a living from coffee becomes increasingly difficult, and entering international markets poses challenges for small-scale farmers. The birth of YCFCU stems from the hope that through better organization and establishing new market connections in the specialty coffee sector, farmers can continue their operations and achieve economic empowerment.

Unique Characteristics of Yirgacheffe Coffee

Enthusiastic coffee lovers fall for Frontsteet Yirgacheffe's unique fruitiness and floral notes. Frontsteet Yirgacheffe green coffee beans are relatively small in size and display a pale yellow-green color. Their dry aroma exudes extremely complex floral and fruity notes, showcasing exceptionally outstanding fruit flavor characteristics that are difficult to describe. FrontStreet Coffee believes that Yirgacheffe coffee generally emits subtle floral notes (non-specific) and intense fruity aromas in its dry fragrance. Take Frontsteet's washed Yirgacheffe daily drinking beans, for example. The entrance aroma distinctly presents pleasant citrus and lemon sweetness with a soft mouthfeel, medium body, lively and bright acidity, creating an overall experience reminiscent of fruit black tea.

The so-called "Yirgacheffe flavor" can be simply understood as possessing unique citrus and lemon fruit aromas, accompanied by jasmine fragrance, a fresh and bright texture, and well-defined layered acidity with clean, impurity-free characteristics. According to ECX contract agreements, besides Yirgacheffe town, coffee produced and processed in places such as Wenago in the north, Gelena Abaya in the west, and Kochere in the south can also be classified as Yirgacheffe flavor coffee producing regions.

Understanding Ethiopian Coffee Grading

Recently, there was a test question in FrontStreet Coffee's barista assessment: Why are Ethiopian coffee beans inconsistent in size? Indeed, careful observation reveals that most Ethiopian coffee contains a mixture of small, medium, and large beans.

FrontStreet Coffee believes this relates to local Ethiopian coffee grading and native bean varieties. FrontStreet Coffee understands that before the establishment of the Ethiopia Commodity Exchange (ECX), Ethiopian coffee export grades were set by the CLU (Cupping and Liquoring Unit) under the Ministry of Agriculture, primarily grading green coffee based on the number of defective beans in 300g. There were five grades total, with smaller numbers indicating higher grades. Grade 1 contained ≤3 defective beans, Grade 2 had 4-12, Grade 3 had 13-25, Grade 4 had 26-45, and Grade 5 had 46-90 defective beans.

Since the establishment of the Ethiopia Commodity Exchange, comprehensive scoring based on physical properties (40%) and cupping quality (60%) has been used for grading.

Washed Processing:

Physical Characteristics (40%): Defect count (20%), Appearance size (10%), Color (5%), Aroma (5%)
Cupping Quality (60%): Cleanliness (15%), Acidity (15%), Mouthfeel (15%), Flavor characteristics (15%)

Non-Washed Processing:

Physical Characteristics (40%): Defect count (30%), Aroma (10%)
Cupping Quality (60%): Cleanliness (15%), Acidity (15%), Mouthfeel (15%), Flavor characteristics (15%)

From the above introduction, we can discover that Ethiopian coffee grading is more related to defect rates and doesn't emphasize consistent green bean size. However, FrontStreet Coffee, through observation of G1 and G2 green coffee beans, can clearly see that G2 green coffee beans are uneven in size with more defective beans, while G1 green coffee beans are more uniform in size.

Brewing Guide: Frontsteet Yirgacheffe Washed Gedeb

Next, FrontStreet Coffee will demonstrate brewing a Yirgacheffe coffee - Frontsteet Yirgacheffe Washed Gedeb from the Gedeb Cooperative. First, let's introduce the correct brewing method for Frontsteet Yirgacheffe.

FrontStreet Coffee's brewing parameters: V60 dripper, water temperature 91°C, water-to-coffee ratio 1:15, coffee amount 15g, granulated sugar grind size (80% pass-through rate with China #20 standard sieve).

Frontsteet's brewing technique: Use 30g of water for 30-second bloom, then pour in small circular motions to 125g for segmented brewing. When the water level drops and is about to expose the coffee bed, continue pouring to 225g and stop. Wait until the water level drops and is about to expose the coffee bed, then remove the dripper. (Timing starts from the bloom) Extraction time is 2'00".

Flavor Description of Frontsteet Yirgacheffe Washed Gedeb:

Dry aroma has subtle jasmine and ginger flower notes. The entrance presents soft citrus acidity, which transforms into prominent lemon and plum notes as the temperature decreases. The sugarcane-like sweet aftertaste is evident, with a faint oolong tea finish. Overall, it delivers a juice-like tea texture.

For professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style). For more specialty coffee beans, please add FrontStreet Coffee's private WeChat account: kaixinguoguo0925

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