Ethiopia Chelbesa

Meet Chelbesa, a vibrant washed micro-lot from the Gedeb district of Ethiopia's Gedeo Zone. The Chelbesa station is managed by Ephtah. Beyond producing exceptional coffee, Ephtah is committed to empowering women in the local coffee community, running initiatives in education, financial literacy and financing, and strengthening female leadership within the industry. Farms contributing to this lot sit between 2,150 and 2,200 masl, where a distinct microclimate and fertile red clay soil combine with cool temperatures of 13 to 25°C and annual rainfall of 1,200 to 1,599mm, conditions that consistently produce fruity, floral cup profiles. Farmers here grow heirloom varieties, Ethiopia's unidentified wild coffee trees, classified either as JARC varieties developed by the Jimma Agricultural Research Center, or as regional landraces that grow entirely wild. Only ripe cherries are hand-picked, then carefully sorted on arrival at the station to remove any unripe, overripe or defective fruit. Processed using the washed method, cherries are pulped to remove the skin, and the mucilage-covered beans are fermented in tanks for 48 to 72 hours to break down the remaining fruit layer. The beans are then thoroughly washed to remove residual mucilage, before sun-drying for 10 to 15 days until they reach the ideal moisture level. In the cup, expect a bright lemon zest opening, moving into delicate jasmine, before finishing on a smooth Earl Grey note. A clean, elegant expression from the women-empowering station of Chelbesa.