Ethiopia | Dembi Sidama Grade 1 Natural

Process | Natural

Variety | Ethiopian Heirloom Varieties

MASL | 2000

Dark Chocolate | Red Grape | Fresh Citrus

At the Dembi washing station, located in the heavily forested Sidama Region of Ethiopia, thousands of small-holding farmers contribute to diverse lots of Ethiopia’s oldest surviving heirloom varieties. A majority of Sidama’s residents are subsistence farmers, with coffee the most popular, profitable agricultural product in the region. Naturally processed Sidama lots, like this one, are typically delivered the day they are harvested, then “floated” in raised water beds to remove bad fruit, dried in the shade for around 18 days or until a moisture of 11.2% is reached, and finally rested for 4 weeks before hulling and preparation for export.

Sidama is known for producing the most coffee at the highest grades in Ethiopia, owing to its high elevation, relatively cool weather, and plentiful rainfall. These conditions cause the coffee grown in this region to ripen slower than in any other region in Ethiopia, imbuing the coffee cherries with more complex sugars and yielding deeper and more complex flavors. This lot is rich in dark chocolate and cooked red grape, with citric and floral overtones; a delicious, multidimensional flavor profile.