Ethiopia Chelbessa Espresso

Producer: Neguesse Debela owner of SNAP: working with farmers in the kebele of Worka Chelbessa.

Region: Gedeb, Gedeo

Elevation: 1900 - 2200 MASL

Variety: 1974-1975 JARC Selections & Local Landraces

Harvest: December - January 2024

Process: Washed

Tasting Notes: Peaches, Cherries, Honey

Roaster's Notes:

At the Danche washing station in Worka Chelbessa, coffee is processed using both traditional and experimental methods. The washed process, used for this coffee, involves underwater fermentation where the coffee is fully submerged for 36 to 48 hours, sometimes longer, before being dried on raised beds for 10 to 14 days. These careful methods yield coffees with vibrant, juicy profiles marked by floral and citric notes.

Worka Chelbessa is located in Gedeb, the southernmost district of the Gedeo Zone in southern Ethiopia. Though often associated with the broader Yirgacheffe coffee region, Gedeb’s farms are relatively young, with many only 20 to 30 years old. Farms here average between 1.5 to 2 hectares, though a few larger ones exist. The region’s high elevation and rich soil, combined with smallholder farming practices, contribute to the complexity and clarity of its coffees.

The Danche washing station in Worka Chelbessa has quickly earned a reputation for producing exceptional coffees through precise processing and a commitment to quality. Its natural and washed lots consistently express the signature characteristics of southern Ethiopian coffee: floral aromatics, bright citrus acidity, and a juicy, clean finish. As part of the wider Gedeo and Yirgacheffe tradition, Danche showcases the potential of this newer but increasingly celebrated coffee-growing area.