Ethiopia Worka Sakaro Gedeb (Anaerobic Natural)

Notes of strawberry lemonade, raspberry, pineapple

Origin: Gedeb, Ethiopia
Washing Station: Worka Sakaro
Zone: Gedio
Kebele (neighborhood): Worka Chelbesa
Altitude: 2,000 to 2,200 meters above sea level
Varietal: Kumie, Diga, Wilsho (Indigenous Heirloom Cultivars)
Process: Anaerobic Natural & Dried on Raised Beds for 18 days (80 raised beds)

Origin Story:

Worka Sakaro Washing Station is located in the Gedio Zone. The washing station works with over 400 smallholder farmers in the region. These farmers grow their coffee on the steep mountain slopes at approximately 2,000 to 2,200 meters above sea level. The coffee is grown in the shade of Birbira, Corsica Africana, and Ensete Ventricosum trees. The coffee is picked when the cherries are ripe and then dried on raised beds for 18 to 21 days. Once the coffee is dried it is then milled to remove the husks and stored in a local warehouse before being transported for final processing before shipment. This lot follows suit with the wave of groups now experimenting with various methods of “anaerobic” processing. It follows all the same steps as a typical naturally processed coffee, except after the coffee is floated, it is placed into special plastic bags, flushed with carbon dioxide and nitrogen gas, and monitored over 3-7 days until fermented adequately (varies based on mucilage content and environmental conditions). Once the cherries reach the desired pH and color, they are removed from the bags and transferred to drying tables to complete the process.