Ethiopia Kochere Jet Hama

From Kochere's long-established cooperatives, where nearly 45,000 farmers share knowledge and infrastructure. This Yirgacheffe lot delivers the region's classic profile—floral, fruity, and citrus-bright, without unnecessary complexity.

Origin Ethiopia Region Yirgacheffe/Kochere Elevation 1,800-2,100m Process Washed Variety Heirloom The Source

Cooperative Coffee at Scale

Kochere sits in Gedeo Zone's western portion, home to twenty-six cooperatives affiliated with the Yirgacheffe Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union. With nearly 45,000 members across the district, this is smallholder agriculture working at collective scale—shared washing stations, combined buying power, knowledge passed between neighbors who've been growing coffee on these slopes for generations.

The terroir remains classic Yirgacheffe: volcanic soil, abundant springs for processing, and elevations that slow cherry maturation to build sweetness and acidity. Ethiopia's heirloom varieties—thousands of indigenous cultivars evolved over millennia—produce flavors no hybridization program can replicate.

The Craft

Washed: The Yirgacheffe Standard

Cherries arrive at cooperative washing stations within hours of harvest. Depulped immediately, the beans ferment in clean water for 12 to 72 hours—just long enough to break down mucilage without developing off-flavors. Multiple rinses wash away any remaining fruit, then beans spread across raised beds to dry slowly under the highland sun.

This meticulous wet processing creates the sparkling clarity Yirgacheffe is known for—bright acidity, clean florals, and tea-like body that lets delicate aromatics float rather than sink under heaviness.

Lemon Floral Apricot Black Tea Body Light Acidity Bright The Cup

Straightforward Elegance

Lemon brightness opens clean and sharp, providing the acidic lift that makes morning coffee wake you up before the caffeine kicks in. Floral notes follow—not jasmine's intensity, just gentle aromatic presence. Apricot sweetness balances the citrus, while black tea tannins in the finish add structure without bitterness. The light body keeps everything crisp and refreshing, a coffee that invites multiple cups without fatigue.

Find Your Fix

Pour-over is ideal here—Chemex or V60 at 1:16 ratio with water at 200°F. The light body and bright acidity translate beautifully to cold brew as well; steep 14-16 hours for a citrus-forward, refreshing summer pour. Avoid heavy extraction methods that would muddy the clean florals.

Roasted in small batches at our Virginia Beach roastery, where the Atlantic air reminds us daily of the journeys these beans make to reach your cup.

Virginia Beach, VA