Habtamu Fekadu Aga from the American roastery Hydrangea Coffee Roasters is exactly the kind of Ethiopian coffee that will win over any lover of clean, washed specialty coffees. The flavor profile opens with delicate notes of honeysuckle, which are gradually complemented by juicy citrus and the sweetness of ripe nectarines. The cup feels light and fresh, with a lively acidity, a light-to-medium body, and a clean finish.
Behind this coffee is Habtamu Fekadu Aga, who collaborates with the Kuri Mountain Coffee project, which focuses on the traceability of individual lots. The coffee cherries come from registered growers in the Yirgacheffe region, and each shipment is carefully documented, allowing the coffee’s origin to be traced back to the group of farmers who contributed to its production. Habtamu took over the washing station in 2020 and, two years later, equipped it with a modern Penagos hulling machine, which helps ensure more uniform processing of the coffee cherries.
This lot underwent washed processing. After sorting and pulping, the coffee cherries ferment for approximately 24 hours; the beans are then washed by hand and dried for 9 to 12 days on raised beds out of direct sunlight. During drying, the beans are turned regularly, and their moisture content and any defects are checked to ensure the coffee retains its clean and fresh flavor profile. In addition, the washing station uses water from a deep well and maintains careful quality control of every lot processed throughout the entire process.
- Farmer: Habtamu Fekadu Aga
- Elevation: 1,900–2,100 m above sea level