Chelbesa G1 · Filter

Ethiopia Chelbesa G1 Washed | Yirgacheffe

CUP: Floral,Citrus, White Tea

Chelbesa is one of the most celebrated coffee-growing areas within Gedeb, located in the highlands of Ethiopia’s Gedeo Zone and widely recognised for producing some of the most elegant washed coffees associated with the Yirgacheffe profile.

This lot comes from smallholder producers who cultivate coffee at high elevation, around 1,950–2,200 metres above sea level. At this altitude, cool temperatures allow the coffee cherries to mature more slowly, helping to build clarity, fragrance and refined sweetness in the cup.

In this part of Ethiopia, coffee is often grown in small garden plots alongside other crops and shade trees, creating a naturally diverse growing environment. This traditional style of cultivation contributes to the delicacy, complexity and clean structure that Chelbesa coffees are known for.

After harvesting, ripe cherries are delivered to the local washing station, where they are sorted, depulped, fermented and carefully washed before drying on raised African beds. This washed process is all about clarity — removing the fruit from the seed early and allowing the character of the variety, terroir and high elevation to show through with precision.

In the cup, this Chelbesa is clean, lifted and beautifully transparent. The aromatics are delicate and floral, followed by bright citrus acidity and a soft white tea finish. It is not a heavy or overly fruity Ethiopian coffee; instead, it shows elegance, structure and a very refined expression of washed Yirgacheffe-style coffee.

We love this coffee for its quiet beauty. It does not need to be loud to be memorable. The profile is graceful and precise — floral, citrus-driven and tea-like, with a clean finish that makes it especially enjoyable as a filter roast.