Yirgacheffe is one of Ethiopia's most renowned coffee regions, and behind this cup of floral and citrus notes lies a story of fair trade and smallholder farmers' struggles. This naturally processed Yirgacheffe from the Oromia Coffee Farmers' Cooperative not only carries the hopes of local coffee farmers to escape poverty, but also wins over countless coffee lovers with its G2 grade, organic certification, and richly layered flavors. This article will guide you through how the Oromia Cooperative grew against the odds during 30 years of low coffee prices, as well as the tasting profile and brewing suggestions for Front Street's Veda Flower beans. [more…]

Recently, the security situation in Ethiopia has deteriorated sharply, with a series of kidnappings targeting public buses and students in Oromia State, where the abductors demand huge ransoms, drawing widespread international concern. The U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia has issued a condemnation, and the high-risk area security advisory previously issued by the Chinese consulate has still not been lifted. At the same time, Ethiopia is hosting the COE Cup of Excellence coffee competition, attracting judges and coffee professionals from many countries. The kidnappings not only threaten personal safety but may also cause coffee traders to turn to neighboring countries, further dragging down Ethiopia's coffee exports and industry development, with a worrying outlook. [more…]

A vicious kidnapping incident has recently occurred again in Ethiopia's Oromia State, where a bus carrying 52 passengers was hijacked by gunmen in the town of Dogebe Guracha. Although most passengers have escaped, 8 people are still being held. This incident is strikingly similar to the mass kidnapping of 100 people that took place in the town in July this year, causing the local security situation to continue deteriorating. At the same time, armed conflict has also begun to emerge in the southern coffee-producing regions, and combined with the Red Sea situation and tensions in relations with neighboring countries, Ethiopia's coffee industry is facing multiple challenges, including slowing exports and declining confidence among international buyers. [more…]

The Specialty Coffee Association of America's Roasters Guild hosted the 2012 Coffee of the Year (COTY) green coffee competition, bringing together 250 green coffees from 26 countries to compete on the same stage, ultimately selecting ten specialty coffees representing the highest standard of the year. Judges conducted blind tastings and scoring across six dimensions—dry fragrance, wet aroma, mouthfeel, flavor, aftertaste, and body—with Ethiopian and Colombian Geisha emerging as the biggest winners. This article will present the complete detailed data of this top ten list and interpret the outstanding performance of various regions and varieties, providing coffee enthusiasts with a professional reference. Front Street Coffee will also combine the list to recommend specialty beans worth paying attention to. [more…]

Oromia, Ethiopia, has recently seen a string of kidnappings and armed attacks, and the conflict has spread to the Lekanti coffee-producing area in the west and the town of Asela near the Sidama-producing area. Meanwhile, the country's coffee exports in August hit a record high, with export value rising sharply year on year. However, multiple factors—continued conflict, currency depreciation, and the impending implementation of the EU's deforestation regulation—have filled the prospects for Ethiopia's coffee industry with uncertainty. This article reviews the course of events and the impact on the industry for coffee lovers' reference. [more…]

Guji is one of the most recognizable producing regions in Ethiopia's specialty coffee landscape. It was separated from Sidama in 2010 and administratively belongs to the Oromia Region. Here, high mountains and deep valleys, fertile volcanic soil, and sharp temperature differences between day and night give rise to coffees with both floral and fruity notes. Guji encompasses several well-known sub-regions, including Hambela, Shakiso, and Uraga, among which Hambela is the birthplace of the "Huakui" coffee beans. This article systematically reviews Guji's geography and terroir, the flavor characteristics of its various sub-regions, and the origin background, processing methods, and brewing suggestions for Front Street Coffee Sidama Natural Huakui, helping coffee enthusiasts gain a comprehensive understanding of this region's unique charm. [more…]

Guji Zone is a coffee-producing region in Ethiopia that has attracted much attention in recent years, located southeast of Yirgacheffe and under the administration of Oromia Regional State. This lot of Kersha Village Natural G1 is produced by a local smallholder cooperative, using African raised-bed natural drying, at an altitude of 1,900 to 2,000 meters, with the variety being Ethiopian heirloom landraces. In terms of flavor, it presents delicate blueberry aroma, ripe orange and grape notes, with sweet, rich body and a long finish. This article explains in detail the administrative divisions of this producing region, the operating model of the Kersha cooperative, and how the Dutch Red Cherry Project improves coffee quality through technical guidance and premium-price purchasing, providing coffee enthusiasts with complete background and tasting reference. Front Street Specialty Coffee also recommends Yirgacheffe Natural Red Cherry, Costa Rica Sumava Black Honey, and Angel Estate, among other beans. [more…]

Located in the Guji region of Ethiopia, the Anasora Farm is a rare single-estate coffee production site in the country, covering about 250 hectares at an altitude of 1,900 to 2,350 meters. This Lot3 batch is processed using the African raised-bed single-layer slow sun-drying method, presenting a complex aroma of strawberry cookie, mixed berries, citrus, and florals, accompanied by maple-syrup-like sweetness and a solid, rich mouthfeel. The delicate blueberry aroma from high fermentation, the sweet, full-bodied coffee, and the typical Sidamo depth at medium temperatures give this bean a long finish and lingering sweetness. Front Street Coffee recommends it to enthusiasts who love sun-dried Ethiopian coffee. This article will outline the estate's background, trends in the Guji region, and relevant Oromo context to help readers fully understand the origins and story of this bean. [more…]

The Ethiopian coffee industry is facing severe challenges. On one hand, security conflicts have once again broken out in the Horo Guduru region of Kiremu district in Oromia, resulting in at least 6 deaths; this area is home to Lekanti, the country's main commercial coffee-producing region, and the ongoing conflict continues to disrupt coffee production. On the other hand, the EU Deforestation Regulation will take effect at the end of 2024, and because Ethiopian coffee will struggle to meet compliance requirements, it could face export economic losses of up to US$1.4 billion. Although Ethiopia's coffee export value hit a record in August this year, the dual pressure of the security situation and new international trade rules has left the outlook for this major African coffee country full of uncertainty. [more…]

Yirgacheffe is Ethiopia's most recognizable specialty coffee region, and its internal grading and the differences between washing stations often determine the flavor profile of a given bean. This article focuses on the grade rankings of the Worka washing station while also providing an in-depth analysis of the typical characteristics of washed Yirgacheffe coffee. It begins by introducing the specific details of Front Street Coffee's Gutingding washing station G1 washed lot, covering the region, altitude, variety, and flavor description, then moves on to discuss the geographical and soil advantages of Gedeb in the Oromia Region, extending further to the historical origins of the Yirgacheffe region and its sub-regions. By tracing the logical chain from washing station grading to flavor in the cup, it helps coffee enthusiasts understand the quality implications behind the G1 grade and why the Gutingding cooperative has become an excellent choice of pour-over for beginners. [more…]

Ethiopia's administrative hierarchy consists of four levels: Region, Zone, woreda, and kebele, and the naming of local green coffee beans often follows this system as well. The Guji-Shakisso focused on in this article is located southeast of Yirgacheffe and, in terms of administrative division, falls under Oromia Region → Guji Zone → Shakisso woreda, making it a regional-type coffee origin. Thanks to its outstanding geographical conditions and cup performance, Guji is an independent ECX production region, and Shakisso is one of its much-watched micro-regions. This article will sort out its altitude, soil, processing methods, and flavor characteristics, and review Shakisso's impressive achievements on the international specialty coffee stage. Front Street Coffee also continues to pay attention to high-quality lots from this production area, bringing coffee lovers choices worth tasting. [more…]

As the birthplace of coffee, Ethiopia's regional divisions and flavor profiles have always been a focal point for coffee enthusiasts. This article will provide an in-depth analysis of the rise of the Guji Zone, starting from the four-tier administrative system of Region, Zone, Woreda, and Kebele, to explain the positioning of Guji-Shakisso within Oromia Region→Guji Zone→Shakisso woreda. At the same time, using the Yirgacheffe Geddida Village washed G1 lot as an example, it will fully present the production background, varieties, processing methods, and flavor layers of smallholder farmer Alimbukato, and trace the historical context of Geddida Village's independence from the Worka Cooperative in 2012. The article also covers the scale, organic certification, and high-altitude terroir conditions of the Worka Cooperative, helping readers comprehensively understand why Ethiopia's Guji Zone has become a hotspot that cannot be ignored in specialty coffee in recent years. [more…]

Recently, multiple consecutive earthquakes have occurred in the Awash Fentale area of the Oromia Region in Ethiopia, raising concerns among local residents and those in the coffee industry. This area is not only close to the capital, Addis Ababa, but also adjacent to the important coffee-producing region of Harar, and the earthquakes may affect the soil and coffee yields. At the same time, the risk of damage to road infrastructure, combined with port congestion caused by the Red Sea crisis, may further disrupt Ethiopia's coffee export transportation. In addition, the conflict in the north and the continued depreciation of the exchange rate remain major challenges facing the country's coffee industry, with planting costs constantly rising and the coffee price cap being raised again. This article will review the earthquake developments and their potential impact on the coffee supply chain. [more…]

Recently, a deadly attack occurred in the Arsi Zone of Oromia Region, Ethiopia, causing casualties and further deteriorating the local security situation. Meanwhile, clashes between Fano armed groups and government forces have intensified in Amhara Region in the northwest, and tensions in Bahir Dar city have escalated. These upheavals not only threaten regional stability but also affect Ethiopia's important coffee industry. With multiple factors overlapping, including currency depreciation, road blockades, and the Red Sea crisis, coffee cultivation costs have risen, exports have been hindered, and international influence faces challenges. This article will review the latest conflict developments and their potential impact on the coffee industry. [more…]

Recently, the Ethiopian Investment Commission signed a subcontractor developer agreement with the Chinese enterprise CKIIG to develop 20 hectares of land in the Gada Special Economic Zone, with a total investment of 50 million USD (about 6 billion birr). The project focuses on areas such as coffee processing and is expected to enhance Ethiopia's coffee processing technology and export competitiveness. However, Ethiopia currently faces multiple challenges, including armed conflict, kidnapping incidents, earthquakes, and currency depreciation, causing coffee industry costs to keep rising. Front Street Coffee will continue to follow developments in the origin and bring frontline news to coffee lovers. [more…]

Located in the Sidamo region of southern Ethiopia, this area is a treasure trove of coffee flavors thanks to its complex terrain and microclimates. This time we focus on the washed Sidamo G1 produced in the Hambela town of the Guji zone, selected by Front Street Coffee, at an altitude of about 2,150 meters and washed from native heirloom varieties. This bean displays an aroma interwoven with lemon, sweet citrus, plum, and roasted cocoa, with a smooth, rich, and sweet mouthfeel. The article will detail the geographical background of Hambela, the history of Shakiso, and the role of the Dutch green bean trader Trabocca in driving quality. It will also walk you through the origin of Front Street Coffee's Huakui name and its unique flavor. Whether brewed as pour-over or espresso SOE, you can experience rich floral and fruity notes with a black tea finish, making it ideal for coffee lovers who enjoy light roasts. [more…]

Guji is a specialty coffee region in Ethiopia that has attracted much attention in recent years, having become independent from Sidama thanks to its distinctive floral and fruity flavors. This article systematically reviews the geographical environment of the Guji region, the terroir characteristics of sub-regions such as Hambela, Shakiso, and Uraga, and focuses on the Front Street Huakui coffee beans that made Guji famous—from the natural processing method at the Buku Abel processing station to the complete parameters for V60 pour-over, helping coffee lovers gain a comprehensive understanding of this region's unique charm and brewing key points. [more…]

Guji is the second specialty coffee region in Ethiopia to become independent from Sidamo after Yirgacheffe, and it quickly rose to fame in just over a decade thanks to its highly recognizable regional flavors. Guji has complex terrain and deep volcanic soil, and its high altitudes and significant day-night temperature differences together create a rich array of aromatic compounds. Its sub-regions such as Hambela, Shakiso, and Uraga each have their own characteristics: Hambela is the birthplace of "Huakui," Shakiso is known for its lemon-honey profile, and Uraga stands out for its tea-like body and floral-fruity aroma. Front Street Coffee's Huakui comes precisely from naturally processed beans in the core Hambela production area. This article will provide a complete analysis of the flavor code of Guji coffee, from regional divisions and terroir conditions to processing methods and brewing parameters. [more…]

The Guji region of Ethiopia is renowned worldwide for its unique flavors and excellent varieties. This article will delve into the origin background, traceability, and the origins and characteristics of the two heirloom varieties, 74110 and 74112, used in Shakiso Wako organic coffee. These two varieties were developed by the Jimma Agricultural Research Center in the 1970s to resist coffee berry disease and are now widely cultivated in the Guji region. The article will also share the tasting notes of this batch of coffee, including mild citrus acidity, grapefruit, jasmine, and sweetness flavor characteristics. Whether you are a coffee enthusiast or a professional, you can gain a deeper understanding of Ethiopian coffee from it. Front Street Coffee recommends that you pay attention to this high-quality coffee with structure and sweetness. [more…]

In recent years, Huakui coffee beans have attracted considerable attention in China's coffee community. They come from Guji Hambela in the Sidama region of Ethiopia and rose to fame by winning the 2017 TOH championship. This article will give you a comprehensive understanding of the unique qualities of Huakui coffee beans from multiple perspectives, including the producing region's background, administrative divisions, and sun-dried processing methods, with a focus on describing the flavor and taste characteristics of Huakui 6.0 in 2022. At the same time, Front Street Coffee, as a well-known domestic roaster, will also present its recommendations and interpretations of this bean in the article, helping coffee enthusiasts gain a deeper understanding of this star sun-dried bean from Ethiopia. [more…]