HAYB – Ethiopia – Chire

This is insane. Chire is a microregion located high in the mountains of Kere Woreda, in the heart of Ethiopia’s Sidamo region – a place that has long been renowned for its exceptional quality coffee. The local processing station, the Chire Washing Station, prepares both washed and natural coffees. Behind every cup are over 900 smallholder farmers who cultivate coffee on small, 1-2-hectare plots. Small farms, fertile soils, and altitude translate into beans full of character and juicy complexity. However, the Chire region thrives on more than just coffee – alongside the coffee bushes, there are also enset, known as the “”false banana,”” and creamy avocado. It’s a landscape of abundance, where coffee matures slowly, acquiring sweetness and juiciness. Just like this washed coffee before you – black, sweet tea, red apple (sweet, firm, and juicy), and creamy vanilla paste. Insane.