Ethiopia - Aricha - Washed

Who's ready for one of the best washed coffees we've released all year? This sparkling gem from the Aricha community opens with a beautifully sweet black tea note, then surprises you with vibrant passionfruit as it cools. Expressive yet refined, it's quickly become a crew favorite. Grab a bag and step into a world of coffee magic.

We Taste: Black Tea, Passionfruit, Marshmallow Process: Washed Varietal: Ethiopia Landraces MASL: 1950

About Aricha, from our pals at Red Fox:

Aricha is a remote community in Ethiopia’s Yirgacheffe region. It is home to one of the oldest coffee growing traditions in the world.

To get to Aricha we have to fly to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, then take a 30 minute local flight to the city of Hawassa in Sidamo. In Hawassa we drive four hours on a paved road until we reach the Idido washing station in Yirgacheffe. In Aricha the paved road ends and the dirt roads begin. Aricha’s terrain is rugged and mountainous, so distance to the individual farms depends on where on the mountain they are located. The closest farms to the city are 20 minutes away by motorcycle and the furthest ones are an hour away.

Most farms have access to dirt roads, so at harvest time producers transport bags of cherry by motorcycle, horse, or donkey to the nearest collection center. These bags then travel by truck to the central collection center in Adorsi. In general, transport between farms and collection centers is simple enough. This changes during November and December’s rainy season, which intersects with harvest. During the rainy season, temperatures reach 25C/77F, with higher humidity than the rest of the year. These conditions are ideal for coffee plants but troublesome for logistical operations in the field due to high chances of mud on dirt roads.

The producers of Aricha intercrop their coffee with native trees of the area like the false banana tree to shade and fertilize their fields. Since the producers deliver all their coffee in cherry, the collection centers prepare and store organic compost and distribute it among the producers. Their coffee is fermented between 48 and 72 hours in fermentation tanks then dried between four and five days on raised beds, based on climate.

The majority of producers here belong to the Gedeo culture and speak the Gedeo language. The traditions of their native culture are still very present in producers’ daily life. For instance, birds and domestic animals like dogs and cats are highly respected in the Aricha area.

Life in Aricha can be idyllic in some ways, but equally complicated in others. Since many farms are remote, access to clean water, electricity, and school for children is a constant challenge. That means children from the most distant farms often start working from a very young age. Opportunities are very few in Aricha, but migrating to other cities is not a great option for young people in the area due to the large education gaps between their region and the city. Many young people decide to stay on their parents' farms or buy neighboring farms and continue dedicating themselves to coffee for the rest of their lives.

Sourced from the renowned Ethiopia · Yirgacheffe region, this Ethiopia Aricha lot is offered by Brandywine Coffee Roasters. The coffee consists of Ethiopia Landraces grown at 1950 masl and undergoes a washed process. While natural-processed coffees often lean toward intense fruit-forward profiles, washed coffees are frequently celebrated for their ability to highlight the inherent clarity and delicate acidity of the bean.

By utilizing the processing methods explainer, one can better understand how this specific technique influences the final cup profile. Brandywine Coffee Roasters highlights notes of black tea, passionfruit, and marshmallow in this selection. To better identify these nuances, drinkers may find it helpful to consult the flavor wheel as they explore the complex characteristics typical of high-quality Yirgacheffe offerings. This lot serves as a refined example of the region's potential, balancing bright, tea-like qualities with a soft, sweet finish.