Ethiopia ARDI

If you’ve been a single origin drinker for some time, then you know about the reputation of coffees from Ethiopia. This birthplace of coffee holds such a special place in the coffee industry, producing unique coffees unlike those from anywhere else. The coffee culture here is steeped in tradition and significance, and it’s where we get this special coffee offering.

Sometime between the 7th and 9th century, wild coffee cherries in Ethiopia were harvested and eaten as a fruit, before being commodified and grown as a crop, or brewed as our favorite morning beverage. Once cultivated as a major agricultural product for the country, many farmers joined cooperatives that supported its members with funds to help assuage the constantly fluctuating market price of their crop. Many changes in policy and efforts of cooperatives in Ethiopia allow us greater access to lots out of the country today, and coffee from this origin has become a favorite of consumers for its floral and fruity tasting notes.

This coffee is named Ardi after a humanoid skeleton that scientists named Ardipithecus Ramidus (and nicknamed Ardi). Found in the same region that our coffee was grown in, the skeleton was determined to be our most recent ancestor. This name pays special homage to Ethiopia as the birthplace of both coffee and humanity.

At 2000 meters above sea level, Oromia is one of the oldest coffee-producing regions in the country, known for coffees that have distinct berry tasting notes and wild, earthy tasting notes. The beans come from Ethiopian heirloom varietal coffee plants, and are naturally processed after harvest, with a dry time of 17 days. This means that the cherries sundry on raised beds and the fruit is removed from the beans after the 17 days of drying.

Ethiopian coffees are some of the most unique that come out of any roastery, and this coffee is no different. It’s cocoa and strawberry notes lend a surprisingly heavy body and is best enjoyed as a hot or iced pour over. Check out our guide to brewing coffee by hand.