ETHIOPIA METU ILLUBABOR

Crisp pear, a green tea finish, and cane sugar sweetness that holds it all together. A clean, classic washed Ethiopian from one of the country's least explored growing zones.

Illubabor sits in Ethiopia's fertile western highlands, a 30 minute flight from Addis to the zone capital of Metu, then dirt roads out to the washing station. Established in 2015, the station processes 300 to 400 tons of clean coffee a year from smallholders farming one to two hectares each, mostly in the Hihud Gebeya community. Cherry is washed and mechanically depulped, soaked overnight, then dried 12 to 15 days on raised beds. The station keeps records by supplier and lot, so this coffee is traceable back to the farms it came from.

Origin: Ethiopia
Region: Mettu, Illubabor, Oromia
Producer: Hihud Gebeya community smallholders via the Metu washing station (1 to 2 hectares each)
Altitude: 2,000 to 2,100 meters
Variety: Ethiopia Landraces
Process: Washed, soaked overnight, dried 12 to 15 days on raised beds
Tasting notes: Pear, green tea, cane sugar
Roast level: Light to medium
Recommended brew: Pour-over or drip

Whole bean or ground, roasted to order in Atlanta. Available in 310 g, 2 lb, and 5 lb.