Etiopie Chelchele

Dalston’s partner, EDN Ethiopian Coffee, purchases coffee from the Chelchele area from hundreds of small-scale farmers who bring their coffee cherries to a local processing station. Most of them farm just one or two hectares, and coffee here is not only a source of livelihood but also an integral part of daily life, traditions, and the community. EDN is an independent processor and exporter with stations in Guji, Gedeb, and Sidama. Chelchele itself is located in the Gedeb district in the southern part of the Yirgacheffe region. Anyone who has been in the specialty coffee scene for a while knows the name: coffee from this station appears in the offerings of roasters around the world and is considered a prime example of Yirgacheffe. Harvesting is done by hand, and the cherries are then dried whole on raised African drying beds for 15 to 20 days, depending on the weather.

Growers turn them regularly to ensure even drying. The varieties found here are 74110 and 74112. Both were bred in the 1970s by the Jimma Agricultural Research Center (JARC) for resistance to coffee berry disease; the number 74 in the name indicates the year of selection, 1974. The parent trees originate from the Metu-Bishari forest in the Illubabor region. The result is a cup with notes of ripe cherry, a floral aroma, and a vanilla sweetness on the finish. Dalston recommends brewing it using a filter method, whether it’s a V60, French press, or drip coffee maker.