An Introduction to the Characteristics of Yirgacheffe Coffee Beans

The Rise of Yirgacheffe Natural Coffee

For the past two years, Yirgacheffe has broken from tradition, frequently introducing stunning natural process beans that have become the rising star of the specialty coffee market!

FrontStreet Coffee's Premium Yirgacheffe Natural

FrontStreet Coffee's Natural Yirgacheffe beans are small, neat, and short-round in shape. While Ethiopian natural process beans typically grade G3-G5, these beans reach G2 grade—equivalent to washed bean standards. Although there are still a few defective beans, compared to Harrar and Sidamo natural beans, this is truly remarkable.

In 2015, FrontStreet Coffee's Natural Yirgacheffe achieved G1 grade, surpassing G1 washed beans in both quality and appearance.

Exceptional Flavor Profile

These beans are roasted until the first crack is dense, then removed from the roaster. When brewed by pour-over or siphon, the moment you grind the beans, you're greeted with an intoxicating natural fruit aroma. The sweetness is prominent, combined with FrontStreet Coffee's signature washed Yirgacheffe citrus and jasmine floral notes. The taste remarkably combines three distinct flavor profiles: FrontStreet Coffee's Harrar, FrontStreet Coffee's Yemen Mocha, and FrontStreet Coffee's Yirgacheffe washed beans!

Rigorous Quality Control

FrontStreet Coffee's Natural Yirgacheffe adheres to strict standards for harvesting red cherries (coffee tree fruit). Before sun-drying the coffee cherries, unripe green cherries and defective ones are manually removed. During the natural drying process, damaged or moldy cherries are eliminated again. After two weeks, when the fruit pulp's sugars and essences have fully penetrated the coffee beans and moisture content drops to 12%, the hardened fruit pulp, pectin layer, and parchment are all scraped clean with a hulling machine. The extracted coffee beans then undergo density and color testing. After eliminating defective beans, workers manually remove any missed defective beans. This multi-layered screening process creates FrontStreet Coffee's exceptionally clean Yirgacheffe natural beans with rich, captivating fruit aromas.

The Origin of Yirgacheffe

This area has been wetland since ancient times. In the local language, [Yirga] means [to settle down], and [Cheffe] means [wetland], thus [Yirgacheffe] means [let us settle and make a living in this wetland]. It is one of Ethiopia's highest-altitude coffee growing regions.

Processing Methods and Terroir

FrontStreet Coffee's Yirgacheffe beans are typically washed processed, but a small quantity of exceptional beans are intentionally natural processed to enhance their captivating fruit aromas and body.

Coffee trees are mostly planted in farmers' own backyards or intercropped with other crops in fields. Each household's production is limited, making this typical pastoral coffee. These mountain villages are shrouded in mist, spring-like year-round. Summers bring gentle breezes—cool but not hot, rainy but not humid. Winter brings no frost damage. This unique environment cultivates a distinctive [regional flavor] with citrus and floral notes.

The Signature Yirgacheffe Flavor

The so-called 'Yirgacheffe flavor' refers to intense jasmine floral notes, lemon, as well as peach and almond sweetness with tea-like qualities.

Tasting Experience

The author's tasting experience can be summarized in one sentence: as the coffee enters your mouth, a hundred flowers bloom! It's like the delightful sensation of flowers touching both taste buds and olfactory receptors. Beyond the floral notes, the delicate body feels like silk massaging your mouth—a truly wonderful tactile experience.

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473