Café Etiopía ‘Yirgacheffe’

Yirgacheffe: Ethiopian specialty coffee with 85.25 SCA points

Yirgacheffe is more than a region’s name: it is a designation of origin with a reputation of its own in the international specialty coffee market. Few origins in the world produce profiles so recognizable and consistently elegant. What makes this particular lot special is that it comes from small producers in the village of Banko Gotiti, in the heart of the Gedeo Zone, who work small family plots using traditional agroforestry systems. This is not a station blend: it has a place name, verifiable altitude, and a process that respects what the geography already does well.

The variety is Heirloom, a term that encompasses indigenous Ethiopian varieties, many of which have yet to be botanically classified. In Ethiopia, Heirloom is not a choice made to stand out: it is simply one of the varieties that has always grown there, in forest ecosystems where coffee has been growing longer than we have been documenting it.

It works especially well with filter methods and French press, where the medium acidity and floral fragrance have room to unfold. In a superautomatic machine, the profile becomes more concentrated and the chocolate takes center stage.

At Cafés El Criollo, we use a natural roast for this lot, aiming to preserve the floral expression that characterizes Yirgacheffe without pushing the profile toward more roasted notes.

Characteristics of Ethiopian coffee

Why choose this Ethiopian coffee

Ethiopia Yirgacheffe stands out in a way you notice from the very first sip: the floral fragrance emerges before the water has finished dripping, and the profile in the cup is unlike what most people expect from coffee.

It is especially well suited to anyone who wants character without aggressive acidity. Yirgacheffe’s medium acidity is gentle, well integrated, and not at all overpowering. Its sweetness is natural and persistent. If you’ve tried other Ethiopians that were more citrusy or intense and weren’t quite convinced, this one may surprise you.

And if it’s a gift for someone who knows coffee, this Yirgacheffe makes a compelling case. 85.25 SCA points, traceability back to the village of Banko Gotiti, and a floral profile you won’t find anywhere else.