Ethiopia West Arsi - Washed

Tasting Notes: Apple | Syrupy | Black Tea

Brew Style: Filter

Origins: Sidama, Ethiopia

Elevation: 1,900 m Above Sea Level

Variety: Local landrace and JARC varieties

Process: Washed

Producer: Various

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This lot is made up of coffee grown near the kebele (local village) of Werka (pronounced “wer-kah”), which is located in the Nensebo woreda (administrative district), in Ethiopia’s West Arsi Zone. The coffee was processed using the washed method at Aash washing station, one of 26 owned and managed by Testi Coffee, a family-owned company founded by Mr Faysel A. Yonis.

Sitting at an impressive 1,900 meters above sea level, Aash produces exceptional washed and natural coffees. The washing station currently processes around 1 million kilo of coffee cherry each year. During harvest, this freshly picked coffee is delivered daily by some 750 independent outgrowers to the kebele of Bulga, where Aash is located.

The region surrounding Aash is close to the Harenna forest, a tropical evergreen forest that is part of Ethiopia’s Bale mountains. Known for its multitude of local flora and fauna, Harenna is one of the country’s last remaining natural forests. The microclimate at Aash, and the villages that surround it, are heavily influenced by the forest, with cooler and wetter conditions than in most of Ethiopia. The area receives a whopping 995mm of rainfall each year, which is ideal for coffee propogation, without being too heavy to cause negative impact on growing conditions.

The majority of the families that contribute to this lot farm organically on tiny plots of land, averaging under two hectares in size. Coffee is their main cash crop and grows alongside food crops of corn, grain and bananas, under the shade of native Birbira, Wanza, and Acacia trees. The average elevation of the farms in this region is very high – around 1,900–2,100m above sea level – and this, combined region’s cool temperatures, is ideal for the slow ripening of coffee cherries, leading to denser beans and a sweeter, more complex cup profile.

This coffee lot was produced as part of Testi’s quality improvement initiative, Premium Cherry Selection (PCS). Launched in 2018, the Premium Cherry Selection program ensures that best practices are used for growing, harvesting and processing the coffee cherry. Through the program, Testi pay a premium to farmers who pick and deliver only the ripest cherries from their farms. Coffees produced as part of the program represent the highest quality and cleanest cup profile available from the washing station and wider region.

ABOUT THE WEST ARSI ZONE

The West Arsi Zone is located in central-eastern Ethiopia, in the Oromia political region and is named after the Arsi Oromo people. Historically, coffee from West Arsi has been classified as ‘Sidama,’ even though the Zone is not within the Sidama political region. West Arsi has begun to distinguish itself in recent years, largely due to the Zone’s excellent results in the country’s Cup of Excellence competition. Part of the West Arsi Zone covers Ethiopia’s Great Rift Valley, which contains several mountains, volcanoes and great lakes. Most of the region’s specialty-grade coffee comes from the valley’s highlands, where humidity is high and temperatures are relatively cool. As a result of these conditions, West Arsi has higher yields and an earlier season than most other coffee-growing regions. Communities here still live rurally and make a living from farming, with few or no agrochemicals used on the fields. Coffee remains the major cash crop for most families, who grow coffee alongside food for consumption.

West Arsi is bordered to the west by the Sidama political region, to the south by the Guji Zone, and to the west by Arsi and the ‘Harrar’ coffee region, one of the country’s three trademarked coffee regions. The Zone is home to the Nensebo woreda, a region that is well-regarded among specialty coffee buyers.