Yirgacheffe Koke Grade 1 Natural
Yirgacheffe is actually part of the Gedeo Zone, Southern Nations Nationality and people’s region (SNNP), in southern Ethiopia, but its exquisite, washed coffees are so well-known that is has been sub-divided into its own micro-region. This steep, green area is both fertile and high – much of the coffee grows at 2,000m and above.
At first glance, Yirgacheffe’s hills look thickly forested – but in fact, it is a heavily populated region, and the hills are dotted with many dwellings and villages’ growing what is known as ‘garden coffee.’ This is when families grow coffee on small plots of land surrounding their homes. There are approximately 26 cooperatives in the region, representing some 43,794 farmers and around 62,004 hectares of garden coffee. The production is predominantly washed, although a smaller number of natural sundried coffees also come out of Yirgacheffe.
- Farm Koke Beker Station
- Varietal Local landraces
- Process Natural
- Altitude 1,950 meters above sea level
- Town / City Koke
- Region Yirgacheffe, SNNPR
- Owner 220 smallholder producers
- Tasting Notes Dark Chocolate, Orange, Cinnamon
- Farm Size Less than 1 hectare on average
Ethiopia, widely acknowledged as the birthplace of coffee (to the chagrin of Yemen and Sudan, who have also laid claim), produces some of the most exceptional and dramatic coffees found anywhere in the world. From the bright bergamot and floral Yirgacheffe to the ripe fruit notes of Harrar, the unique flavours offered by this spectacular country have, over the last 10 years, become some of the most sought after in specialty coffee.