Raspberry, Black tea, Caramel, Apricot
Chelichele is a remarkable fully washed coffee from Ethiopia’s famed Yirgacheffe region, produced by smallholder farmers in the highlands of Gedeb. Though officially part of the Gedeo Zone, coffees from Gedeb are often recognized under the broader Yirgacheffe designation due to their bright, floral, and fruit-forward cup profiles that have made the region world-famous.
Grown at elevations ranging from 1,000 to 1,750 meters, this lot features a mix of local landraces and JARC-developed varieties, which are selected for their balance of disease resistance, productivity, and cup quality. Most farmers manage fewer than five hectares, often growing coffee in small, organic garden plots intercropped with food and shade trees. These traditional methods preserve biodiversity and reflect generations of Ethiopian coffee heritage.
During harvest, families handpick only the ripest cherries, which are then delivered to local washing stations for processing. After pulping, the coffee undergoes a 24-hour fermentation, followed by a thorough washing, density grading, and soaking to remove residual mucilage. The beans are then dried for 10–14 days on raised beds, shaded and carefully turned to ensure uniformity and prevent over-drying. Every step is done by hand, with careful attention to detail.
Tasting Notes:
A refined and expressive cup, Chelichele features juicy raspberry and sweet apricot, balanced by black tea florals and caramel undertones. Its lively acidity and silky body highlight the unique terroir of Yirgacheffe and the time-honored methods of its farmers. With a score of 87 on the SCA scale, this coffee is a brilliant representation of Ethiopia’s legacy in specialty coffee.
