This lot is exclusively comprised of deliveries from Chelchele—a small kebele (neighborhood) that delivers to the Chelbessa washing station, which is located in a region that produces some of our favorite coffees each year: Gadeb. In the cup we find ripe stone fruit, green florals, and melon.
Ethiopian Landrace
Gedeb, Yirgachefe
2,000 masl
December, 2023
Hand-picked at peak ripeness. Floated to further remove defects. De-pulped. Grade 1 density separated. Fermented underwater for 36 hours. Dried on raised beds for 10-14 days.
ABOUT CHELCHELE
As with almost all washing stations in this region, Chelbessa collects cherry from around 300 neighboring producing families. Such coffee is often referred to as 'garden coffee', as the majority is produced in backyards and small gardens. This lot is comprised exclusively of deliveries from the families in the Chelchele neighborhood. This is our third year working with this separation, and the coffee continues to be stunning.
ABOUT ETHIOPIAN LANDRACE
Ethiopia is widely acknowledged as the geographic origin of coffee, and its production continues to represent about 10% of the country's gross domestic product. DNA testing has confirmed over 60 distinct varieties growing in Ethiopia, making it home to the most coffee biodiversity of any region in the world. Given the tradition of coffee production in Ethiopia and the political interworkings of the Ethiopian coffee trade, it is virtually impossible to get single-variety lots from Ethiopia. This is changing, albeit very slowly. Most Ethiopian coffees are blends of the wide Ethiopian varieties and are therefore referred to simply as 'Ethiopian Landrace.'
Pricing Details
FARM GATE (LOCAL; CHERRY)
58 Birr/KG
FARM GATE (USD; GREEN)
~$6.84/KG
FOB
$9.64/KG
FOT
$15.84/KG
The cost of getting a coffee from cherry to beverage varies enormously depending on its place of origin and the location of its consumption. The inclusion of price transparency is a starting point to inform broader conversation around the true costs of production and the sustainability of specialty coffee as a whole.