Chelbessa G1, Ethiopia

Ethiopia is one of the most prized coffee-producing countries, known not only as the birthplace of Arabica coffee but also for its deep-rooted coffee culture, distinct from most producing regions where coffee was introduced as a cash crop through colonisation in the past. For centuries, Ethiopians have cultivated and consumed coffee as part of daily life, first harvesting from wild forest-grown trees and later growing it on their own land.

While some large private estates exist, the majority of Ethiopian coffee farmers today are smallholders who cultivate coffee on small plots alongside other subsistence crops. Most grow limited volumes for commercial sale, and their freshly harvested cherries are typically combined with those of other producers when delivered to a local washing station.

Coffee in Ethiopia is generally shade-grown under organic conditions, as farmers often lack access to chemical fertilisers or pesticides. Cultivation takes place between 1,600 and 2,400 meters above sea level in the southern highlands. After harvest, cherries are delivered to nearby washing stations or central processing units to be sorted, weighed, and recorded before payment. Because cherries are combined into daily lots, tracing specific smallholders to a particular batch is nearly impossible. However, it has become increasingly common for buyers to build relationships with specific washing stations, ensuring consistent profiles and continuous quality improvement year after year.

This coffee comes from the Chelbessa Washing Station in Yirgacheffe, one of the largest kebeles, or villages, in the Gedeb district. Chelbessa receives coffee from nearly 500 farmers in the area. Like most stations in the region, it is equipped with raised African drying beds used for natural processing, one of the two main methods practiced in Ethiopia.

The standard procedure for naturals begins with sorting cherries for ripeness, followed by rinsing and drying with regular turning on raised beds for one to four weeks, depending on weather conditions.

Yirgacheffe is home to some of the most celebrated coffees in the specialty industry, particularly natural process lots known for their distinct blueberry notes. For many coffee enthusiasts, these intensely fruity profiles marked a turning point in their appreciation of the beverage and remain a signature quality sought from the region. The area’s high elevations, rich soils, and moderate climate create ideal growing conditions that result in coffees of vibrant character, with nuanced expressions depending on the station of origin.