This coffee comes from the washing-station at Aricha, which located in the village of Edido, Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia. Aricha is among the microregions whose coffee is dynamic, typically tropical-tasting, with juicy fruit bases and sugary, floral sweetness.
Coffee was naturally made to thrive in the lush environment Yirgacheffe’s forests provide, developing nuanced floral characteristics, articulate sweetness and sparkling acidity. However, coffee has also adapted to the more arid climate of Harrar, in the northeast of the country; The varieties planted there have historically had more chocolatey, rich undertones. Aside from its famous status as the “birthplace” of Arabica coffee, there is much to love about Ethiopia as a producing nation, including the incredible diversity of flavour and character that exists among microregions.
As soon as you pass the city of Dilla, you’ll notice the road roughening. A bumpy A8-highway, that feels like a country-side mountain bike trail, takes you to the Aricha mountains. Then a curly rocky road leads you to the gate of Aricha washing station. The famous Naga Singage mountain looms over the station and the Wogida river creates a continuous serene rush of water, only interrupted by singing Gedeo women stirring parchment and coffee cherry.
If you’re looking for some of Ethiopia’s best coffee, Aricha is the place. The recently revived washing station collects coffee cherries from Yirgacheffe’s most potent coffee forests. Today, the washing station provides an income for surrounding communities, but it wasn’t always like this.
The Aricha station was neglected and abandoned for years. Grass covered the entire terrain and the buildings were in decay. The surrounding smallholders had to deliver their cherries to another washing station further up the road. A far from an ideal situation, since transport goes on foot or by mule. But just a few months before the harvest of 2018, the communities met with a new potential station owner, Faysel Yonis.
Faysel shared his plans to make Aricha a hub for quality Yiracheffe coffee. After the traditional coffee ceremony, the elders expressed their enthusiasm and gave their blessing. Faysel’s vision goes beyond coffee and business. Because besides reviving the station, Faysel started to work with the community to build an electricity-network for surrounding villages. Faysel and the team also coordinated the construction of a school and plans to give families access to clean water.
Supplied by Trabocca
