Pineapple Express - Ethiopia

What we are tasting: For the 5th year of sourcing this coffee, we find this years crop to be very citrusy. On the color spectrum when we drink this coffee, all we can see is yellow and orange. Think Pineapple, Mango and Lemonade. A great drip coffee and a wild espresso, there are many ways to enjoy this wild bean! 

About this coffee: Nestled in the highlands of Ethiopia’s famed Gedio Zone, the Worka Sakaro Washing Station collaborates with over 400 smallholder farmers. These dedicated growers cultivate their coffee on steep mountain slopes at elevations ranging from 2,000 to 2,200 meters above sea level, under the canopy of native shade trees.

The harvest begins when cherries reach optimal ripeness. After handpicking, the coffee is traditionally dried on raised beds for 18 to 21 days. Once fully dried, it is milled to remove the husks and stored in a local warehouse before undergoing final processing and export preparation.

This particular lot exemplifies the innovative spirit of producers in the region, embracing the increasingly popular anaerobic natural processing method. The process mirrors a standard natural approach with a unique twist: after the cherries are floated and sorted, they are sealed in specialized plastic bags, then flushed with carbon dioxide and nitrogen gas to create an anaerobic environment. The coffee ferments in these bags for 3 to 7 days, depending on the mucilage content and surrounding environmental conditions.

Fermentation is carefully monitored until the cherries reach the desired pH and color. Once this is achieved, they are removed from the bags and transferred to drying beds to complete the process. The result is a distinctive and complex cup profile that reflects both tradition and innovation in Ethiopian coffee production.

Farm: Over 400 small farms(regional blend)

Washing Station: Worka Sakaro

Tasting Notes: Pineapple, Mango, Lemonade

Roast Level: Medium/Light

Varietal: Ethiopia Heirloom

Process: Anaerobic Natural

Altitude: 2,000-2,200 Meters Above Sea Level