Ethiopia - Chelchele Yirgacheffe G2 - Single Origin

The world’s most populous land locked country and 10th in total world population, Ethiopia is in the geographically distinct eastern “Horn of Africa” directly adjacent to the highly politically and militarily volatile 18-mile narrow Bab-el-Mandeb, translated Gate of Lamentation, straight which connects the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, providing entre to the Arabian Sea, while separating Africa from Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula.  Arab lore claims vast numbers were drown when an earthquake created the straight separating the two land masses.  Nautical lore alludes to the dangers in navigating the straights. Current political reality highlights the dangers associated with existing regional tensions. Anyway stacked, Gate of Lamentation is well named with the straight, historically and presently, fraught with uncertainty.

Roughly the size of California and Texas, Ethiopia is border north by Eritrea, west by Sudan and South Sudan, south by Kenya, southeast and east by Somalia with Djibouti due east sandwiched by Eritrea and Somalia.  Eritrea, a 78-mile geopolitical barrier to the Red Sea, was traditionally part of Ethiopia however, marred by 30 years of brutal conflict, now stands independently defiant. Ethiopia finds itself in a rough neighborhood however, even so precariously perched on stabilities edge, this country is a wonderous place. Rich in ancient lore, the Kebra Nagast, translated The Glory of the Kings and national epic of Ethiopia, proclaims in the 10th century BC Menelik I, born of the fabled union between Solomon, King of Israel, and the Queen of Sheba, inaugurated the Solomonic Dynasty which ruled Ethiopia virtually uninterrupted for 225 generation and 3000 years until the deposition of Emperor Haile Selassie in 1974.

A paleontological vista with evidence indicating that modern man emerged from the rugged savannah. An architectural wonderland where the “rock hewn” churches of Lalibela, literally carved into the bedrock, seem an impossibility. They even claim to possess the Ark of the Covenant… Indian Jones got it wrong… not Egypt but Ethiopia.

Among such wonder, amid the backdrop of such political questionability, the real miracle seems the improbability for consistently obtaining what is considered the world’s premier coffee. Yet we are so blessed. Approximately 370 miles due south from Addis Ababa, the capital, and 160 miles from the southern Kenyan border, located in the Ethiopian province of Oromia, is the Yirgacheffe, literally translated as “Land of Many Springs,” coffee region and believed to be the origin of coffee’s discovery.  Legend confers around 800 AD that Kaldi, a goat herder, noticed his goats dancing and frolicking after eating cherry-red berries.  Intrigued, Kaldi chewed the berries experiencing the first caffeinated euphoria and eulogizing his inquisitiveness for perpetuity. Kaldi shared this curiosity with local monks who, disapprovingly, threw them in a fire only to be intrigued by the wonderful aroma, that we all know so well, and, after deciding to brew the ensuing roast, found their pray vigils greatly enhanced after consumption. A hard pivot on the original judgement with an adjudication of the humble beans as an elixir of wonder. 

Traders discovered and introduced coffee to the Arabian Peninsula where it was cultivated and given the name Kahwah, translated “keep one from sleep”. Coffee, by the graces, found it’s way to the America’s in the mid-17th century and, with that small disagreement in 1773 of the Boston Tea Party, tea was literally thrown out of the American lexicon and coffee installed as the fuel of a new nation. Chelchele is a kebele, translated village, in the woreda, translated district, of Kochere located in the southern reaches of the Yirgacheffe.

Your Ethiopia Organic Yirgacheffe Chelchele G2 Natural is organically cultivated between 6234 – 7218 feet and naturally processed at the Chelchele Coffee Station which services the many small local farms. Natural processing allows the coffee cherry fruited flesh to sun dry on elevated beds 12 – 15 days resulting in a cornucopia of dried fruit notes with intense flavors difficult to rival. Rated from G0-G9, with G0 considered the holy grail of perfection, this coffee’s G2 rating is exceptional, with a cup score of 85.5, and ultimately, excellent flavor providing the final verdict.  A vanilla sweetness with milk chocolate characteristics accompanied by a dominate blueberry dried fruit finish complemented by a light body and medium acidity giving way to an homage of black tea. The mélange of flavors intensify as the cup cools.  As you slowly sip, allow yourself a 10-minute thoughtful vacation into your favorite mindscape and be rewarded with an increasing intensity of deliciousness. Take a journey into the Yirgacheffe and be rewarded with a melding of mind and flavor… transported to the cradle of coffee culture with thanks to the people of Chelchele who make our adventures possible.

Process: Natural… the natural cherry flesh is allowed to remain on the bean and dried on raised beds, exposed to sunlight with constant turning, for around 12 - 15 days.

Elevation: 6234 – 7218 feet

Aroma: Mixed berry fruity dry frangrance with sweet spice undertones.

Flavor: Medium acidity with black tea characteristics…. vanilla sweetness with milk chocolate accompanied by a dominate blueberry dried fruit finish

Roast: Light… beautiful light body.