ETHIOPIA | WORKA CHELICHELE

Notes:
Blueberry, Amaretto, Dark Chocolate

Worka Chelichele is a renowned washing station situated at an elevation of over 1,850 MASL, the station is in Gedeb Woreda but according to the congruence of microclimates and tastes, the station and the farms that deliver to it are in Yirgacheffe. The farming practices in this area remain largely traditional, with coffee plants intercropped alongside other food crops. The cherries are handpicked by families, and most farms adhere to organic practices by default.

The unique climate, soil, and altitude of the region contribute to the exceptional quality of the coffee produced here. Farmers selectively handpick only ripe cherries, which are then delivered to the washing station, where they are carefully inspected and graded. For this anaerobic lot, only fully ripe cherries are selected and tightly packed into GrainPro bags, which are sealed to create an oxygen-free (anaerobic) environment. In this sealed environment, microbes that thrive in the absence of oxygen dominate the fermentation process, resulting in distinct flavour profiles. Following fermentation, the cherries are sun-dried on raised beds for three weeks, with workers turning the cherries regularly to ensure even drying, culminating in a coffee with remarkable depth and complexity.