Ethiopia - Chelchele / Heirloom / Washed SP

We’re pleased to offer this beautifully composed washed lot from Chelchele, a well-regarded washing station in the Kochere district of Yirgacheffe. Sourced from hundreds of smallholder farmers farming tiny plots of land, this coffee reflects the collective work of a community deeply rooted in Ethiopia’s coffee culture. Farmers deliver freshly picked cherry to the station, where it’s carefully sorted and processed, with Chelchele consistently producing coffees known for their clarity, sweetness, and elegant structure. This lot is made up of native Ethiopian heirloom varieties—an umbrella term that captures the incredible genetic diversity found across the country’s coffee forests. While not traceable to a single cultivar, these heirloom selections are what give Yirgacheffe coffees their unmistakable character: layered, expressive, and often beautifully floral. Grown at elevations reaching up to 2400 masl, the slow maturation of the cherries allows for refined acidity and a delicate, nuanced sweetness to develop. The “Special Prep” washed process used here is all about precision and restraint. Only the best cherries are selected—primarily perfectly ripe fruit—before being depulped the same day and fermented for 8–12 hours. The coffee is then washed clean of mucilage and dried on raised beds for up to two weeks. This careful, controlled approach strips things back to the essence of the coffee, highlighting clarity, balance, and origin character rather than fermentation-driven intensity. In the cup, expect a refined and comforting profile. Jammy apricot leads the way, supported by a mellow caramel sweetness and a soft, balanced acidity. There’s a gentle florality and a subtle citrus lift in the background, tying everything together into a cup that feels composed, clean, and quietly complex—exactly what you’d hope for from a high-elevation washed Yirgacheffe. Net weight: 150 grams Flavour profile: Apricot jam, caramel, florals.