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Ethiopia · Natural

Ethiopia | Harrar

Roasted by Quills Coffee

Grade 1 Harrar from Ethiopia's eastern highlands with traditional natural processing and distinctive wild flavors.

Ethiopia | Harrar — Quills Coffee
Image: courtesy of Quills Coffee
black teavanillacooked berrieswine-likeblueberry

From the roaster

Harrar coffee holds a legendary status in the specialty coffee world, and for good reason. This is one of the oldest coffee-producing regions in Ethiopia, with traditions dating back centuries.

This Grade 1 Harrar comes from the eastern highlands, where the distinct dry climate and ancient processing methods create a coffee unlike anything else in the world. The 180 farmers in the Harrar Coffee Farmers Association still process coffee using methods passed down through generations.

After harvest, cherries are dried on rooftops and raised platforms in the intense highland sun. The natural process here is pure and traditional—no fermentation tanks, no modern equipment, just sun, air, and time.

The 18-21 day drying period develops the distinctive wild, wine-like flavors and blueberry notes that Harrar is famous for.

The farmers here face unique challenges, including limited rainfall and older tree stock, but their dedication to traditional methods produces a coffee with unmatched character.

When you taste Harrar, you're tasting coffee history—the same flavors that made Ethiopian coffee famous to the world remain alive in every cup.

We're tasting black tea, vanilla, and cooked berries. 

Country: Ethiopia Region: Oromia Variety: Heirloom Process: Natural Elevation: 1,800 - 2,000 Meters Above Sea Level (MASL)

Quills Coffee

Context

Natural-processed coffees tend to showcase bold fruit-forward profiles, and this Harrar offering from Quills Coffee exemplifies that character. Grown in Ethiopia's historic coffee region at 1800–2000 masl, this Heirloom lot carries the hallmark complexity of natural processing—layered fruit notes balanced by earthy undertones. The roaster identifies black tea and wine-like qualities alongside darker berry tones, suggesting a coffee that bridges delicate florality with riper, more fermented character. Harrar's reputation for distinctive, sometimes winey profiles aligns with these tasting observations, making this a compelling choice for those seeking depth beyond conventional Ethiopian coffees.

Buy — $26 from Quills Coffee

In the Encyclopedia

Frequently asked questions

Where is Ethiopia | Harrar grown?

Ethiopia | Harrar, roasted by Quills Coffee, is sourced from Harrar, Ethiopia.

What does Ethiopia | Harrar taste like?

Expect tasting notes of black tea, vanilla, cooked berries, wine-like, and blueberry.

How is Ethiopia | Harrar processed?

Ethiopia | Harrar uses the Natural process.

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Last verified: June 27, 2026 · Browse all beans.