Ethiopia- Kochere, Chelelektu (Washed)

This is a grade 1, fully washed lot from Chelelektu wetmill in Kochere disctrict, Gedeo zone. The mill, managed by Legese Kebede, processes cherries from around 650 local smallholder farmers. Farmers typically cultivate less than 2 hectares of land and farms range between 1,900 and 2,100masl, some of the highest altitude coffee terroirﾠin the world.ﾠ

Ripe cherries are delivered to the wetmill for careful sorting and pulping, before fermentation for 36-48 hours, depending on the climactic conditions. After this point the parchment coffee is thoroughly washed and graded by bean density before being dried in the sun on raised African beds for 12 - 15 days (untilﾠthe ideal moisture level has been reached). In the daytime the parchment needs to be raked and turned periodically to ensure a consistent drying process. The coffee is also covered between 12pm and 3pm to protect it from the hot sun, and at night time to protect it from rainall and moisture. Once the coffee has dried to the right level it is transported to Addis Ababa for dry-milling, grading, sorting and handpicking, before being bagged in GrainPro for export.

The town of Chelelektu is in Kochere district (not far from Yirgacheffe town) in Gedeo zone, ﾑSouthern Nations, Nationalities & Peoplesﾒ (SNNP) region of Ethiopia. It is amongst the highest altitudeﾠtowns in the region. Over a number of years the region has developed a distinguised reputation for fine coffees, producing some of the most sought-after microlots in world. The combination of high altitude (up to 2,200m in some areas), fertile soil, consistent & plentiful rains, and an abundance of local knowledge are all contributing factors to the high status of Yirgacheffe coffees. The indigenous ﾑheirloomﾒ varietals - which grow wild in Ethiopia - are responsible for the unique flavor notes which make for an unusual but refined cup, characterised by strong citric acidity, sweet chocolate and floral/herbal notes of lavender, jasmine, bergamot and hops.