Yirgacheffe Alamo Coffee Cooperative - Yirgacheffe Coffee Flavor Profile Introduction

FrontStreet Coffee - Yirgacheffe Alamo Cooperative Washed G1

Ethiopia is an ancient nation on the African continent and the homeland of Arabica coffee. It is in the forests of Ethiopia's Kaffa region that you can still find wild Arabica coffee growing. In Ethiopia, coffee is practically the nation's currency, and almost every wealthy family built its fortune through the coffee trade in earlier generations.

In the Ethiopian language, coffee is called "Bun" or "Buna."

Ethiopian coffee has many distinctive traits, and Yirgacheffe is among the most celebrated. Yirgacheffe itself, however, comes in many forms: different processing methods and specialty grades lead to different levels and prices, and by the time they reach the market they can become confusing to sort out.

Yirgacheffe Alamo Cooperative Washed G1 (FTO)

Grower: Alamo Cooperative

Variety: indigenous heirloom cultivars

Region: Yirgacheffe Town, Gedeo

Altitude: 1,800 to 2,000 meters

Processing: fully washed and raised-bed drying

Flavor profile: rich jasmine and lavender notes, grapefruit-candy sweetness, clean and bright

The Alamo Cooperative was established in 1975 and has 2,254 members; it joined YCFCU in 2002.

The Yirgacheffe Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union, or YCFCU, was founded in 2002. It brings together 26 primary cooperatives, including well-known names such as Konga and Worka, all of which fall under YCFCU.

The Alamo Cooperative receives annual rainfall of 1,400-1,800 mm and has fertile reddish-brown soil. It holds Fair Trade and Organic certifications and operates two coffee processing plants. After the cherries are depulped, they undergo roughly 72 hours of water fermentation using traditional Ethiopian methods, followed by another wash before being moved onto raised beds for sun-drying. Once drying is complete, the coffee is hand-sorted. The processed beans are stored in parchment and sent to the capital, Addis Ababa, where they are hulled before export.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

For the clean, bright washed Yirgacheffe profile this cooperative is known for, the most direct reference point is FrontStreet Washed Yirgacheffe, the everyday house lot that first introduces most drinkers to Ethiopia. It is known for white jasmine florals, bright citrus and lemon acidity and a tea-like body, and its friendly price has made it the first specialty coffee for many people.

If you want to go a step deeper into the Yirgacheffe sub-regions, FrontStreet Gudingding Cooperative comes from the Gudingding processing station in the Worka area at the southeastern edge of Yirgacheffe. It was originally part of the Worka cooperative under the YCFCU umbrella before becoming an independent single-origin lot; the station continues to use traditional washed processing. The result is a cup free of the old bitter tone, with fresh, bright citrus and lemon acidity and jasmine fragrance that wins people over at the first sip.