Ethiopia Samii Danche

Washed Ethiopian coffee holds a special place for me. It starts with a floral taste and ends with a black tea–like Earl Grey note. With a medium body and clean finish, I think it’s perfect after a meal.

This organic, washed lot comes from the cherries from approximately 400 farmers who produce good yields thanks to fertile soil and good farming methods. The farms sit at high altitudes (2000 - 2300 masl) and have an average size between 1-2 hectares.

The elevated altitudes play a significant role in shaping the distinct flavour profiles produced at this washing station. Harvesting typically takes place later in the season compared to other regions, owing to its location. This prolonged cherry maturation period significantly contributes to the exceptional quality of the produce.

Moreover, the team at the Danche Washing Station have a lot of experience in agronomy and agriculture, giving them the freedom to experiment effectively with new processing methods.

"Samii" means blue/sky in the Oromiffa language. It refers to coffees with flavours such as earl grey, hibiscus, hops, grapes, and sweet spices.

Harvest & Post-Harvest
The cherries are collected manually and hand sorted later. They are placed directly in the hopper that is connected to the pulping machine (a traditional Agaarde Disc Pulper). The coffee flows from the hopper down to the pulper, and the pulper removes the skin and pulp. The machine is designed to conduct grading of high and low quality (1st and 2nd), based on density.

The coffee is then fermented under water in tanks for an average of 72 hours, but any time frame between 48 - 100 hours is within the norm. The coffee is graded again in channels, so that the cherries of lower quality (with a lower density) will float. They are removed, leaving the denser, higher quality beans to be separated as higher-grade lots.

The parchment is soaked in clean water and then dried on raised beds for approximately 8 - 20 days. The coffee is dried in layers of 2-8 cm, depending on the climate, the type of tables, and the stage of drying.