Ethiopia Sidama G2 Washed 2023

Ethiopia Sidama Green Coffee Beans

The Sidama region is home to nearly 8 million people with distinct cultures and traditions and is famous for high-elevation coffee. The fertile highlands reach altitudes of 2,200masl, and the slow ripening of coffee cherries promotes the development of complex flavors and aromas characteristic of Ethiopia Sidama green coffee. This Grade 2 washed coffee features delightful notes of golden raisin and green tea, accentuated by a cane sugar sweetness and medium acidity.

Although coffee from Sidama is often referred to as, “Sidamo” coffee, Sidamo is a misnomer that dates back to the 1880s.

Washed Process Coffee in Ethiopia

In the “washed” or “wet” process coffee cherries are floated and sorted to ensure consistent ripeness and to remove any defective cherries. The seeds (coffee beans) are then removed from their skins using depulping machines and typically moved to fermentation tanks to remove the mucilage—the remaining fruit remnants.

Washed processing has become widely popular. The cup profile of washed coffees tends to reflect the coffee’s terroir. The processing method allows the growing conditions, the region, and the true character of the coffee to shine through.

Coffee Grading in Ethiopia

Coffee grading in Ethiopia is based on the combined result of physical qualities and cup qualities, including altitude, imperfections, and flavor. Grades range from 1 (high) to 9 (low), with grades 1 and 2 considered specialty. Most of Ethiopia’s G1 and G2 coffees comes from Sidama, earning its reputation for stellar quality.

Ethiopian Coffee

Ethiopia, the homeland of Arabica coffee, might only produce 3-4% of the world’s coffee supply, but the variety of character that comes from this origin is astounding. Thousands of different landrace varieties still grow wild in Ethiopia’s mountainous forests.

Ethiopian coffee beans are celebrated for their bright fruit and floral flavors, expressed with exceptional acidity and sweetness. Out of the many coffee-growing districts in the country, a few stand out from the crowd with their highly distinctive cup profiles, like Yirgacheffe, Sidama, and Guji.