Yirgacheffe Worka Coffee - Introduction to Washed Yirgacheffe Worka G1 Grade Characteristics

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FrontStreet Coffee - Washed Yirgacheffe Worka G1

Coffee beans from Indonesia and Africa are graded using this defect bean proportion grading method. Indonesian beans are mainly divided into 6 grades, namely G1 to G6. The highest grades for washed beans are G1 and G2, while the highest grades for natural processed beans are G1 and G3.

What Do These Grades Mean?

Washed: Grade-1, Grade-2 (G1 > G2)

Natural: Grade-1 and Grade-3 to Grade-5 (G1 > G3 > G4 > G5)

Important Notes:

a) Both washed and natural processed beans can achieve Grade-1, with the requirement of "zero defects" and Premium Cup quality. Whether washed or natural processed, Grade-1 is the rating for the best of specialty coffees or Cup of Excellence coffees.

b) The lowest grade for natural processed Yirgacheffe and Sidamo is Grade-4.

c) Even within the same grade level, such as Limu Grade-2, there can be both good and bad beans, depending on the sorting standards and investment from the exporter.

d) Given the current "zero defect" requirement, Grade-1 beans (including both washed and natural processed) are extremely rare, as processing costs are very high and very few suppliers are willing to produce them.

Yirgacheffe Origin

Yirgacheffe itself is a small town with approximately 20,000 people. The three neighboring small producing areas - Wenago, Kochere, and Gelena Abaya - produce coffee with flavors almost identical to Yirgacheffe, so they are also classified under the Yirgacheffe region.

Yirgacheffe shares similar culture and geographical conditions with neighboring Sidamo, but Yirgacheffe seems to be more blessed with unique advantages. Top-quality Yirgacheffe coffee features floral notes, bright citrus fruit acidity, lemon-toned aromas, and a silky smooth mouthfeel.

Washed Ethiopian Grade-1 Coffee

This washed Ethiopian coffee can reach the highest grade of G1, making it extremely rare. This bean comes from a single farm in Ethiopia, processed by the Worka Cooperative. The Alemayehu Alako farm is a member of the Worka Cooperative.

The Worka Cooperative is located in southern Gedeb region, established in 2005, and joined the famous Yirgacheffe Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union (YCFCU) in the same year. It is renowned for producing high-quality natural processed Yirgacheffe coffee. The Worka Cooperative has approximately 300 coffee farmers. YCFCU was established in 2002 and includes 26 other cooperatives, serving over 45,000 coffee farmers.

Compared to the traditionally natural processed Harar region, natural processed Yirgacheffe is not as common. As the region where Ethiopia's first washing station was established, coffee enthusiasts are more familiar with washed Yirgacheffe, known for its elegant lemon and citrus character.

Washed processed coffee is less likely to have wild flavors, featuring pure and clean characteristics suitable for light roast levels. This washed Ethiopian coffee reaches the highest grade of G1, already indicating very few defects.

Flavor Profile

Distinct floral notes, with rich citrus aromas in both dry and wet fragrance. The front palate features lemon, kumquat, white grape juice, and diverse flavors. The middle to back palate shows rich citrus acidity and sweetness, like soda-like rich sweetness. Distinctive and prominent, extremely rare.

Coffee Details - Washed Yirgacheffe G1

• Country: Ethiopia
• Grade: G1
• Region: Worka
• Roast Level: Light Roast
• Processing Method: Washed
• Variety: Local Indigenous Varieties
• Processing Station: Worka Cooperative
• Flavor Notes: Lemon, Kumquat, White Grape Juice

Pour-over Reference

To brew a cup of washed Yirgacheffe Worka, FrontStreet Coffee recommends using 15g of coffee grounds with water temperature at 89-90°C, and a water-to-coffee ratio of 1:15. Use medium grind (3.5-4 on Fuji Mahlkoenig grinder), V60 dripper. First pour 30g of water for 28-30s bloom, then pour to 104g and pause. Wait until the water level drops to half, then slowly pour until reaching 230g total water. Avoid the last tail section. Total extraction time: 2:12 minutes.

Important Notice :

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