Ethiopian Washed Coffee - Aleta Wendo

Producers: Small local producers
Region: Aleta Wendo
Altitude: 1,400 – 2,200m
Variety: Heirloom
Process: Washing

Originating from the Sidamo region, one of the highest parts of the country, where the coffee grows between 1,500 and 2,200 meters. The ripening process is slow, and this can be seen in the profile: more defined, complex, and vibrant flavors.

This plot originates in the Aleta Wendo area and is part of a joint effort between the UN (ITC – International Trade Centre) and various local organizations, including NGOs that support the Farming Accelerator Project, a program that is training 5,000 smallholder farmers to improve productivity sustainably and help make farming a more stable family business.

The project consists of: composting, pruning, plant rejuvenation, combined cropping, adaptation to climate change, and simple yield management. Since coffee farming in Ethiopia is primarily a family-based endeavor, the program also emphasizes gender equality and training for women, something that makes a real difference in the lives of families.

In the cup, this Aleta Wendo displays a light and very "tea-like" profile, with an elegance reminiscent of aromatic Apricot and Earl Grey. The acidity is precise and fresh, with notes of lemon, the result of a very clean washed process. The Heirloom variety reinforces that classic Ethiopian character: delicate and with a lively finish.