Ethiopia | Chelbesa [organic]

High-quality specialty coffee – freshly roasted at NANO KAFFEE Roastery in Berlin Kreuzberg. A product of the highest quality. Cultivated, sourced and roasted with respect for people, plants and planet.
NANO KAFFEE – conscious coffee from Berlin.

• 100 % Arabica
• 100 % organic (DE-ÖKO-070)
• filter roast
• washed
• whole beans
• single origin Ethiopia
• flavours: berries, black tea, creamy, dark chocolate aftertaste

You can enjoy this coffee as an elegant filter coffee or as a smooth, clear espresso.

Stats

ORIGIN Ethiopia
REGION Yirgacheffe
ALTITUDE 1.925 – 2.300 masl
FARM/GROWER Smallholder Farmers
FOB 7,99 eur / kg
VARIETY Wolisho, Dega
PROCESSING washed
FLAVOURS berries, black tea, creamy, dark chocolate aftertaste

Quick-Info

"The land of many springs" (Yirgacheffe) is known for its dense semi-forest environment, that provides ideal conditions for shade-grown coffee. At this high altitude, lower temperatures allow the coffee more time to develop its distinctive aromas. DANCHE was cultivated in original practice on small family plots. After processing at the nearby washing station and drying on raised beds, the finest beans were carefully selected and finally roasted to deliver rich flavors of berries and black tea with a creamy mouthfeel and an aftertaste of dark chocolate.

FARMER:INNEN — Families in gardens on hills

Coffee farms in Yirgacheffe are often family-run. They have been cultivating very small plots for generations, frequently living and working on just a few hectares of land. This is often referred to as "garden coffee," as the coffee plants are planted in the immediate vicinity of the farmers' homes. Access to the farms is not easy; they can often only be reached on foot, by horse, or by motorcycle.

Farming methods in the region are mostly traditional, and most of the work is done by the families themselves. The coffee cherries are typically picked by hand. This is common on difficult terrain with steep slopes and rugged fields where it is difficult to use machinery. However, this method also ensures a higher-quality harvest.

The organic coffee grows at high altitudes of around 2,000 meters, often in mixed cultivation with food crops. This practice is common among smallholder farmers, as it maximizes land use and supports families' food security.

NATUR — lush highland-terroir

Yirgacheffe is a small region in Ethiopia and is widely regarded as the birthplace of coffee. It is home to 45 different ethnic groups and literally translates to "land of many springs." It is right here in this lush, semi-forested micro-region that Worka Chelbesa is located. The unique location, with ideal topography, elevation, soil of volcanic origin, and abundant water sources, offers perfect conditions for growing and processing exceptional coffees.

The dense and mixed vegetation prevents soil erosion and protects the coffee plants and cherries from excessive sunlight. Thanks to this and the high altitude (cooler, more humid), the soil remains fresh and the coffee cherries ripen more slowly overall, giving them more time to develop complex flavors. While production volumes are low, the quality remains consistently high.

IMPACT — Value creation in the community

Coffee is at the heart of Yirgacheffe's economy and culture. Most families have been growing coffee for generations. Due to Ethiopia's history and the relatively low yields per family, the majority are unable to process or market their coffee themselves; in the past, farmers' batches were blended and sold to the highest bidder through the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange. For many years, this was the only legal way to sell coffee.
Today, things are different; independent washing stations have become an important part of the local coffee community, where smallholder farmers from nearby kebeles (essentially "villages") like Chelchele bring their carefully harvested red cherries for processing.
The stations are a vital link in the value chain. Here, the green coffee is meticulously categorized and sorted, allowing it to ultimately be sold at a higher price. The washing station then concludes contracts with exporters—something individual farmers would not be able to do on their own.

CHELBESA was processed at a washing station established in 2019. The station is part of SNAP Specialty Coffee, a company owned by Nigusse Debela, a key figure in the Ethiopian coffee industry.
SNAP Specialty Coffee is committed to improving farmers' livelihoods and enhancing coffee quality, while promoting sustainability. Through its holistic approach, the company offers training to over 6,000 farmers, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to improve nursery management, coffee production, and processing. Furthermore, farmers are provided with free or low-cost inputs.

Coffee accounts for 25–35% of Ethiopia's total annual export revenue. Therefore, every responsible decision can have an impact on the local community.

VARIETÄTEN — Wolisho and Dega

Ethiopia is considered the birthplace of Arabica; there are thousands of genetically distinct, often unclassified plants. Originally, coffee varieties in Ethiopia were simply referred to as "heirloom," but there are also subdivisions into so-called regional "landraces." The Jimma Agricultural Research Center continues to work on identifying the various types.

The local varieties Wolisho and Dega, that make up CHELBESA, have evolved from wild coffee populations and adapted over centuries to the micro-region in Yirgacheffe.
The word "Dega" refers to an altitude zone in the Ethiopian highlands, usually above 1,800 meters. "Wolisho" is an Ethiopian tree that is also frequently used as a shade tree.

Thus, the varieties already carry in their names what makes the coffee so special.

GESCHMACK — small beans with a rich flavor

The soil of volcanic origin provides essential minerals, nutrients, and trace elements that are crucial for the beans' distinctive flavor profile.

The high altitude and the resulting cooler temperatures and longer development of the cherries not only allow more time for complex flavors to develop but also result in smaller beans and a higher density within the bean. This allows the coffee beans to be roasted for a shorter time (but more intensely). As a result, more of the coffee's unique characteristics are preserved in the beans.

It is precisely this complexity and uniqueness of the aromas that have led to the ever-growing demand for coffee from Yirgacheffe. Even in Germany, it is enjoying growing popularity and has become a true trend coffee.

Our filter roast, precisely developed for these beans, brings out aromas of fruity berries and full-bodied black tea, rounded off with a creamy touch and an aftertaste of dark chocolate. A rich Ethiopian filter coffee.

Every cup is a tribute to Ethiopia's rich coffee tradition and a new appreciation and celebration of it.

FUN FACT

13 months of sunshine? The Ethiopian calendar differs significantly from the Gregorian calendar because it includes an extra month, resulting in a year with 13 months.

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High-quality specialty coffee – freshly roasted at NANO KAFFEE Roastery in Berlin Kreuzberg. A product of the highest quality, cultivated, sourced and roasted with respect for people, plants and planet.
NANO KAFFEE – conscious coffee from Berlin.