Chelbesa #4, Ethiopia

Situated in the Gedeo zone of the Gedeb district, Chelbesa stands as one of the prime regions for coffee production within the renowned Gedeb Woreda. Renowned for its dense, multi-layered semi-forest landscape comprising false banana trees and shaded coffee trees, Chelbesa serves as a stellar illustration of an optimal agro-ecology for cultivating top-tier coffee.

In 2019, SNAP Specialty Coffee established their latest wet mill in a small settlement named Danche, situated in Chelbesa Village. The primary aim was to exclusively procure red cherries from the local farmers in Chelbesa Village, a goal that materialised upon the project’s completion.

The wet mill’s fermentation tanks were constructed using ceramic, a choice aimed at enhancing the clarity of the processed coffee and expediting fermentation by retaining heat within the ceramic material.

This batch results from the combined efforts of 495 smallholder farmers who supplied their cherries to the mill. The predominant soil type in the area is redbrown, known for its exceptional fertility, iron richness, and high acidity content.

This specific batch underwent traditional natural processing, stemming from the cherry deliveries constituting the latter part of the harvest.

Upon reception, cherries undergo sorting facilitated by a series of flotation tanks that separate under-ripe and immature cherries. During this flotation process, the cherries are cleansed with fresh water before being transferred to raised African drying beds, where they remain for a duration of 28 to 35 days.