Xadicho
ETHIOPIA
producers: local smallholders
region: Yirgalem, Dale, Sidama
elevation: 2100 m.a.s.l
species and variety: arabica, indigenous heirloom
processing method: washed
fermentation: spontaneous
This washed Sidamo is put together by Abate Kisho who has more than 20 years of experience growing coffee from the Berra district within the Yirgalem zone in the Sidama region of Ethiopia. The coffee is sourced from family-owned farms within the Sidamo growing region. A smallholder cultivates an area of less than 1 hectare on average, with up to 1500 trees. Coffee farmers deliver their ripe cherries to Abate's washing station where the cherries are sorted de-pulped and then placed in fermentation tanks for 36-48 hours, depending on the weather conditions, where wild yeast strains and bacteria characteristic of the environment take care of the fermentation. Then the coffee beans are being washed and graded in channels followed by drying 12-15 days on raised beds. The raised drying beds are carefully constructed to ensure proper air circulation and temperature control for an optimal drying process.