Ethiopia Chelbesa

The Chelbesa kebele (village) is a renowned producing area in Yirgacheffe in the Gedeo Zone of Ethiopia’s Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (SNNPR). Here, shade-grown coffee thrives under a dense, layered, semi-forest canopy. The Chelbesa wet mill was established in 2019 with the goal of sourcing fresh coffee cherries from hundreds of nearby smallholders. Over 760 producers contributed to this Grade 1 natural processed coffee.

Considered by many to be the birthplace of coffee, Yirgacheffe needs little introduction. Ancient landrace varieties dominate the smallholder coffee gardens that are often organic by default, tended by farmers who intercrop food crops to maximize the potential of this region’s fertile soil.

Most Yirgacheffe farmers are smallholders farming fewer than three hectares. Coffee is generally sold as a cherry to centralized washing stations. This practice helps control quality and allows wet mills to bring out the distinctive Yirgacheffe terroir.

We taste notes of Tropical Fruit, Blackberry, Mandarin Orange, and Star Fruit.

Roast Profile: Medium

Process: Natural

Altitude: 1950-2200 masl