Ethiopia, Adado Natural

Farm: Tracon Adado Station

Region: Adado, Yirgacheffe

Processing: Natural 

Varietals: Ethiopian heirloom varietals

Flavour Notes: Berry Jam, Caramel, Vibrant citrus acidity, Floral

Yirgacheffe, one of Ethiopia’s most renowned coffee regions, is not only celebrated for its exceptional coffee but is also the birthplace of Arabica itself. Arabica coffee grew wild in Yirgacheffe long before it was cultivated anywhere else, meaning the region's climate is naturally perfect for its growth. The high altitudes, nutrient-rich soil, ample rainfall, warm days, and cool nights that coffee producers seek worldwide are all inherently present here—because Arabica evolved to thrive in these very conditions.

Near the town of Yirgacheffe lies the Adado Washing Station, located in the village of Shara and named after the local tribe. Adado serves as a central processing hub for hundreds of smallholder farmers in the area, who grow coffee on tiny plots of land alongside other subsistence crops. These farmers, who typically do not use fertilizers or pesticides, hand-deliver ripe coffee cherries to the station. There, the cherries are carefully sorted, weighed, and processed—either naturally or washed—and dried on raised beds with a sharp focus on quality.

The combination of Yirgacheffe’s ideal growing conditions and Adado’s meticulous processing results in coffees that are globally sought after for their vibrant character. This naturally processed lot from Adado is a prime example: delightfully floral, rich with berry notes, and layered with a complex sweetness. For many, Yirgacheffe is where they first discover that coffee can taste like more than just coffee—it can taste like where it comes from.