Duwancho has produced some of our highest-scoring Ethiopian lots from Arbegona. Long overshadowed by the more recognized region of Bensa, Arbegona has emerged in recent years as a source of some of the finest coffees in the world. In the cup we find watermelon, honeydew, and jasmine.
Ethiopian Landrace
Chericho, Arbegona
2,300 masl
January, 2025
Hand-picked at peak ripeness. Floated to further remove defects. De-pulped. Grade 1 density separated. Fermented underwater for 36 hours. Dried on raised beds for 10-14 days.
Duwancho is one of the highest-elevation washing stations in all of Ethiopia. We have focused on this region for the past several years, as coffees from here continue to excel in the Ethiopian Cup of Excellence. The altitude and dense, compact seeds yield some of the most vibrant and complex profiles we taste each year. We plan to continue deepening our work in these hills and hope to eventually offer single-producer lots from this remarkable area.
Ethiopia is widely acknowledged as where coffee originated, and its production continues to represent a significant part of the country’s economy. DNA testing has confirmed over 60 distinct varieties growing in Ethiopia, making it home to the most coffee biodiversity of any region in the world. Given the tradition of coffee production in Ethiopia and the political interworkings of the Ethiopian coffee trade, it is virtually impossible to get single variety coffee lots from Ethiopia. This is changing, albeit very slowly. Most Ethiopian coffees are blends of the many Ethiopian varieties, and referred to simply as 'Ethiopian Landrace'.
The cost of getting a coffee from cherry to beverage varies enormously depending on its place of origin and the location of its consumption. The inclusion of price transparency is a starting point to inform broader conversation around the true costs of production and the sustainability of specialty coffee as a whole.