FRIEDHATS - Chelbesa - Ethiopia - Dirty Natural - Heirloom

The cherries that contributed to this lot have been anaerobically fermented for 168 hours at the Chelbesa processing site in Gedeb.

Ripe red cherries are picked, and their sugar content is measured using a digital refractometer (Brix scale). The cherries are sorted to remove any impurities, and then floated to eliminate any floaters. The sorted cherries are then placed in a tank for anaerobic fermentation for 168 hours. After fermentation, the cherries are transferred to drying beds in the shade, where they remain for about 23 days.

The Chelbesa washing station is the first of two sites owned by SNAP Coffee, one of the exporting companies we work with; the second site is Danche. Located at 2100 masl, Chelbesa is near Worka Town in Gedeb, also known as Yirgacheffe.

Chelbesa is the largest growing area in Gedeb, encompassing 1240 hectares of coffee farms situated between 1925 and 2110 masl. The proximity of the washing station to the farms ensures that no farmer needs to transport their cherries for more than 40 minutes to reach the station.

SNAP COFFEE, our export partner, was founded in Addis Ababa in 2008 by Negusse D. Weldyes. Operating three coffee washing and processing stations in Chelelektu, Kochere District of the Gedeo Zone, and collaborating with washing stations in Uraga (Guji) and Nensebo (West Arsi), the company serves an average of 550 farmers per station.

Their supply policy revolves around three key principles: ensuring consistent processing of specialty coffee, sharing essential knowledge and training on processing and cleaning methods to partnering farmers, and implementing waste recycling systems to protect the environment.

SNAP focuses on supporting smallholder communities in various ways. They provide technological equipment to newly built schools in the regions they work in, and construct new roads in less accessible farming areas. Their future goals consist of building clinics that will improve healthcare access for farmers in washing station areas. Ok cool, but what does it taste like? This coffee has a big sticky papaya sweetness that carries gentle melon fruits and a clean black tea finish.