Day 20: Ethiopia Yirgacheffe – Advent Calendar Reveal
Origin: Ethiopia
Location: Yirgacheffe
Altitude: 1,700-2,200 masl
Tasting notes: Sugarcane, Jammy red cherries, Nutmeg, Chocolate
Why Alice and Ben love it: This coffee is truly something special... it's from one of the best coffee producing regions in the world, is full of complex sweet flavours and was grown way high up in the mountains.
Not only that, it’s shade-grown, which means it has been carefully cultivated beneath a canopy of native trees that mimic the coffee plant’s natural environment. This traditional method not only protects the land but also enhances the coffee’s flavour. The shade keeps temperatures steady, conserves moisture, and supports a rich ecosystem of birds and insects, meaning farmers rely less on chemicals and more on nature’s balance. The slower ripening of the cherries gives the beans a beautifully complex taste that you can really notice in every sip.
It’s also handpicked, bean by bean — a process that takes incredible skill and care. Having seen handpicking firsthand in Uganda, we know how much dedication goes into each harvest.
Grown in the Yirgacheffe region of southern Ethiopia, at altitudes between 1,700 and 2,200 metres above sea level, this coffee benefits from fertile volcanic soil, mild temperatures, and consistent rainfall - the perfect recipe for high-quality Arabica coffee!
Coffee farming here is a way of life. Families have been growing coffee for generations, using organic, sustainable practices passed down through time. With support from cooperatives and fair-trade initiatives, Yirgacheffe farmers continue to produce some of the most distinctive, flavourful, and ethically grown coffees in the world.
