Ethiopia - Gerse

REGION: Yirgacheffe PRODUCER: Mikiyas Bogale PROCESS: Washed VARIETY: Heirloom & other landrace varietals ELEVATION: 2000-2200 MASL TASTING NOTES: Floral, apple peel, jasmine Producer Story In Ethiopia's Gerse region, coffee producer Mikiyas Bogale continues a family legacy that began with his father. After inheriting the washing station in 2020, Mikiyas took on the responsibility of managing the operation and working alongside local producers to bring the area's coffees to market. Today, the station processes approximately 300 bags of coffee each year, maintaining a focus on quality while supporting the surrounding farming community. Building on the foundation established by the previous generation, Mikiyas has continued to refine the station's practices, creating a reliable outlet for producers in the region and helping showcase the distinctive character of coffees grown in Gerse. The Process The process begins with the careful selection and purchase of ripe coffee cherries, which are presorted before processing. The cherries are then depulped using a traditional Agard pulping machine and separated by density through flotation, ensuring only the highest-quality coffee moves forward. After pulping, the coffee undergoes a 48–72 hour fermentation in large concrete tanks before being thoroughly washed in channels. The parchment is then moved to raised drying beds, where it is carefully dried and hand sorted to remove defects. Once optimal moisture levels are achieved, the coffee is stored onsite in parchment before being transported to Addis Ababa for final preparation and export. The Cup This coffee is a classic expression of Ethiopian washed processing, showcasing the clarity and elegance that careful fermentation and drying can achieve. The meticulous sorting, extended fermentation, and slow drying help create a clean, vibrant cup with layered complexity and refined structure. From harvest through export, every stage of production is designed to preserve quality and highlight the character of the coffees grown throughout the Gerse region.