It's that time of year again, when we welcome our new batch of Black Label coffees from Ethiopia. When looking to source Ethiopians, we always try to select a natural and a washed coffee, to highlight the different processing methods that make Ethiopia such a special country of origin.
First up, we have the washed Yirgacheffe Idido, replacing our Shakisso Farm Black Label. This Fair Trade Organic coffee comes from the Edido Cooperative in Gedeo Zone, in the south of the country. The Edido Cooperative, founded in 1975, is made up of family owned farms in the region and currently numbers 1,247 members.
This one is bright and floral, fruity and complex. We got notes of blackberry, tamarind and dried apricot in the cup - a definite winner.
Complementing the Idido, and replacing the much-loved Chelelektu natural, is the new natural Yirgacheffe Worka FTO. Also from the Gedeo Zone (and also Fair Trade Organic), this coffee comes from the Worka Cooperative, from where it gets its name. A smaller cooperative, Worka has 300 members but is itself a member of the Yirgacheffe Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union (YCFCU). This is an umbrella organization established in 2002 to support a sustainable coffee supply from cooperatives in the Gedeo ethnic region of Ethiopia.
The YCFCU (to which the Edido Cooperative also belongs) works to improve the lives of the more than 300,000 families in its support network. Some of their endeavors include sending the children of farmers to school, building literal bridges in the community, and much more. You can read about their work here.
Another nuanced and compelling coffee, the natural Worka has notes of strawberry and candied orange peel with a depth and clarity that lasts into the finish.
In non-Ethiopia-related news, we're delighted to welcome back our stalwart from Guatemala, the Huehuetenango (way-way-teh-nango). Replacing the Finca Los Caballitos, this coffee is sourced from a group of small farms in the Huehuetenango region of western Guatemala. A little bright, a little chocolatey, with a medium body and notes of cinnamon and dark honey. It's a staff (and customer) favorite, and we're happy it's back.
Pick up a bag of any three coffees at any of our locations, or in our online store.