Ethiopia | Introduction to Selected Coffee Beans from Coffee Growing Regions

Ethiopia

For coffee enthusiasts, Ethiopia is considered a sacred land. This country is the birthplace of coffee and currently stands as Africa's largest producer of Arabica coffee.

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The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is located in northeastern Africa, bordering Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya, and Eritrea. It is a landlocked country with a population of approximately 120 million and a land area of 1.1036 million square kilometers.

The Ethiopian national flag consists of three equal horizontal stripes of green, yellow, and red from top to bottom, with the national emblem in the center. Green represents fertile land, mild climate, abundant plant resources, and hope for the future. Yellow symbolizes peace and universal brotherhood, as well as the people's determination to build the nation. Red represents the people's readiness to shed blood to defend their homeland. The central emblem features a golden yellow five-pointed star radiating light on a blue circular background, where blue symbolizes peace, the rays represent prosperity, and the five-pointed star represents diversity and unity.

Ethiopia's terrain is dominated by mountainous plateaus, mostly belonging to the Ethiopian Highlands, which cover two-thirds of the country. The Great Rift Valley runs through the entire territory, with an average elevation of nearly 3,000 meters, earning it the nickname "Roof of Africa." The northeastern and southern regions consist of desert and semi-desert areas, accounting for 25% of the country's total area.

The average elevation across Ethiopia is 2,450 meters. Such high altitude gives Ethiopia an average annual temperature of 16°C. The year is generally divided into dry and rainy seasons, with an annual rainfall of 1,237 millimeters. The country is rich in natural resources, with abundant water resources, high-altitude mountainous areas, and more than 50 volcanoes. These resources make the country an ideal region for coffee cultivation.

Ethiopian Coffee Regions

Ethiopia has multiple coffee-producing regions, including Sidamo, Harrar, Kaffa, Limmu, Lekempti, Tepi, Bebeka, and Bale. Among these, Yirgacheffe, Guji, Sidamo, and Bebeka are relatively well-known regions.

Sidamo:

After 1995, Ethiopia adopted a federal system of governance. At the same time, out of respect for the cultures of various ethnic groups within the country, the local government also reorganized according to the main ethnic residential areas and languages. As a result, Sidama was incorporated into the newly established Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Regional State, and the area was officially renamed to its historical name: Sidama. However, at that time, to strengthen the promotion of the uniqueness of coffee within the country, the Ethiopian government applied for patents for three coffee region names in 2004, choosing the old name Sidamo® as the registered name for Sidama coffee.

Until now, domestic consumers have always been accustomed to calling coffee from this region "Sidamo." Sidamo spans the fertile highlands south of Lake Awasha in the Great Rift Valley, with elevations between 1,400-2,200 meters and annual rainfall between 1,200-2,000 millimeters. The high altitude, abundant rainfall, pleasant climate, and fertile geological nutrients provide an ideal environment for coffee cultivation. There are many well-known processing stations within the Sidamo region, such as the Santa Veni processing station and the Gosi processing station.

Yirgacheffe:

Yirgacheffe is a small town in the northwestern part of Sidamo province, located on the eastern edge of the Great Rift Valley. It is also one of Ethiopia's highest-altitude coffee-producing regions, with elevations between 1,750-2,200 meters. In the local language, Yirga means "settle down," and Cheffe means "wetland." The region was named Yirgacheffe because of its humid and mild climate, abundant rainfall, fertile land, and ample sunlight. Originally part of the Sidamo region, it became an independent coffee-producing region due to its ability to produce coffee beans with unique floral and fruity notes, ever-changing characteristics, and distinctive flavors.

Guji:

The Guji region was once part of the Sidamo region but was designated as a separate coffee-producing region by the Ethiopia Commodity Exchange (ECX) in 2010 due to its excellent and highly recognizable flavor profile. Located in southern Ethiopia, the region features towering mountains, highlands, plateaus, valleys, and plains, with complex and diverse terrain. These rich landforms create diverse microclimates, and the region possesses volcanic soil and dense forests, with an average elevation above 1,800 meters. The significant temperature difference between day and night slows the growth of coffee cherries, allowing the coffee beans to develop rich flavors. The Guji region also includes several sub-regions, such as Hambella, Uraga, and Shakiso. Among these, Hambella has become well-known to Chinese consumers for its "Horse" coffee beans. Currently, FrontStreet Coffee's new 2025 harvest season "Horse" Gesha coffee beans have also been launched and are now available.

Bebeka:

The Bench Maji region, also known as the Bebeka region, is named after Bebeka, which is the capital of the Bench Maji zone. Located in southwestern Ethiopia, it is a zone under the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Regional State, just a few kilometers from South Sudan. Here, there is a renowned coffee estate: Gesha Village Coffee Estate. The Gesha variety trees at Gesha Village Coffee Estate were found in the wild forests of Bench Maji.

FrontStreet Coffee Ethiopia Entry-level Selected Yirgacheffe Coffee Beans

Region: Yirgacheffe region
Altitude: 1,600-1,700 meters
Variety: Heirloom
Processing Method: Washed processing
Flavor: Jasmine, orange, berries, lemon, caramel

FrontStreet Coffee's Yirgacheffe coffee beans use washed processing and are lightly roasted. FrontStreet Coffee uses V60 with a 1:15 ratio and 92°C water temperature for brewing. You'll smell jasmine fragrance, experience lemon acidity with orange and berry flavors, and a caramel-like sweetness. The mouthfeel is refreshing and smooth.

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