Best Ethiopian Coffee Beans [9 Flavors NOT TO MISS]
Ethiopian coffee beans! What is so special about them? How do they differ from their Columbian or Guatemalan counterparts? Below, we will take a brief journey into the world of Ethiopian coffee beans, and discover some of the better options available, and educate ourselves on the characteristics that make them unique. Here’s 9 of the Best Ethiopian Coffee Beans not to miss!
Contents
- 1 Best Ethiopian Coffee Beans
- 1.1 1 Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC Ethiopian Guji
- 1.2 2 Barbarossa Coffee Ethiopian Yirgacheffe
- 1.3 3 Red Bay Kings Prize Coffee
- 1.4 4 Coffee Bean Direct Decaf Ethiopia
- 1.5 5 La Colombe Ethiopia
- 1.6 6 Rhoads Roast Coffees Ethiopian
- 1.7 7 Volcanica Coffee Company
- 1.8 8 Coopers Coffee Company Ethiopian
- 1.9 9 Royal Beans
- 2 Which is the best Ethiopian Coffee Beans?
- 3 Frequently Asked Questions About Ethiopian Coffee Beans:
Best Ethiopian Coffee Beans
1 Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC Ethiopian Guji
Grown in Guji, southern Ethiopia. This particular bean is lightly roasted and brews a flavorsome cup, with hints of blueberry. Due to the altitude of the area, Arabica coffee grows slower, in a more acidic soil, giving the plant time to soak up more nutrients and develop more flavor. A popular choice from the Ethiopian range, you can expect fruity, earthen tones.
Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC coffee beans are USDA Certified, sustainably sourced and are also Fair Trade certified.
2 lb and 5 lb bags are available in whole bean. 12 lb bags are available in whole bean or freshly ground.
Ethiopian Guji, is well worth a try, should you want to experience a high-quality, single origin, 100% organic coffee, packed with unique taste, and with no added preservatives.
These beans are grown at an altitude between 5,900 – 6550 ft ( beans grown at higher altitudes are of generally higher quality)
2 Barbarossa Coffee Ethiopian Yirgacheffe
Our next choice of tantalising goodness, comes from the Yirgacheffe region of Ethiopia. A coffee growing area considered to produce the best Ethiopian beans, that boast rich flavor, and are described as being chocolaty, while complimented by citric, floral or nutty scents. We can almost smell that first cup looming in the morning air with it’s delightful greeting.
This batch is a medium, light roast and is perfect for pour over methods.
Barbarossa Coffee beans are single origin and are responsibly sourced, roasted and packaged.
Available whole bean in 12 lb bags.
A 100% satisfaction guarantee, or your money back, makes this a tempting choice that promises a worthwhile treat, and a good opportunity to sample Ethiopian coffee at it’s finest.
3 Red Bay Kings Prize Coffee
Another coffee brand, utilising beans hailing from the coveted Yirgacheffe and Djimma regions, is Red Bay Kings Prize Coffee.
At first glance, it is easy to recognise that these roasters are environmentaly conscious, and offer their product in an earth friendly, resealable and recyclable pouch. Red Bay Kings Prize, pride themselves on being culturally and socially diverse, and believe in Direct Trade with coffee farmers. Beans from Red Bay Kings Prize are responsibly sourced and are of premium quality.
Flaunting multiple awards achieved at Golden Bean North America; The worlds largest coffee roasters competition. You can certainly be persuaded to sample Red Bay’s delicious products.
Coffees made with Djimma grown beans, such as the ones used by Red Bay Kings Prize, present pronounced flavours of white peach, melon and honeysuckle, designed to test the more refined palette.
Red Bay Kings Prize Coffee, is single origin, whole bean, and medium roasted fresh to order.
Beans are grown at 5500 – 6500 ft
4 Coffee Bean Direct Decaf Ethiopia
With many happy customers leaving five star reviews. Coffee Bean Direct’s light roast decaf Ethiopian, is a must try for coffee drinkers who enjoy decaf.
Coffee Bean Direct is a popular choice, due to being much friendlier on the wallet than other brands. They supply 5 lb bags of whole bean, lightly roasted.
This coffee’s versatility is impressive. It is suitable for drip coffee makers, pour over, French press, percolator and reusable coffee pods.
Like most Ethiopian coffee beans, fruity tastes and pleasant aromas with a moderate acidity, is what this selection endeavours to deliver.
Coffee Bean Direct roasts to order. Meaning, it arrives to you as soon after the roasting day as possible. Easy online ordering will make purchasing a breeze.
5 La Colombe Ethiopia
A touch of zing, a hint of glee and a dash of sophistication, and you have what resembles an ideal combination for a most memorable cup of coffee.
Yirgacheffe beans are featured once again in this exciting collaboration of flavors, all sure to keep your senses racing. La Colombe Ethiopia manages to merge subtle, yet compatible tastes, resulting in a luxurious citric, peach and vanilla concoction that’ll have you back for more.
La Colombe Ethiopia beans, are fully washed, than triple checked for imperfections to ensure only the best are used to create this product. The coffee is medium roasted, whole bean and available in a 12 oz bag.
Beans are grown at 1800 – 2100 ft
6 Rhoads Roast Coffees Ethiopian
Here we have a medium to dark roast option, with a more elegant appeal.
Rhoades Roast Ethiopian coffee teases floral and wine overtones. As rich in colour as it is in flavor, this full bodied harvest is suitable to any soul who considers themselves coffee aficionados, and almost dares you to surrender to it’s bold and unapologetic identity.
Beans are sourced from Yirgacheffe and processed using the wet method. This allows the beans to ferment over 72 hours and absorb sugars in the coffee fruit to create a superior flavor.
Rhoades Roast Coffees are medium roast whole beans, available in 3 lb, 5 lb, 10 lb and 15 lb bags. Beans are roasted in the morning and shipped in the afternoon, ensuring freshness upon delivery.
7 Volcanica Coffee Company
A truly alluring bunch of attributes are putting on a show in this coffee lovers dream. 100% organic Arabica beans, grown and farmed in Yirgacheffe. harness earthy aromas, with whifts of cinnamon and ripe strawberry. Dry processing is used to create this robust ,level bodied bean that only gains more poise from a medium roast, and demands to be noticed and greedily consumed.
Other traits of this bean may include: Dark chocolate, pineapple, guava and lavender scents and tastes. Confirming that this little number is certainly the diva of the bunch.
Available in 16 oz whole bean bags. Volcanica Coffee Company immediately packages after roasting to lock in freshness , and offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Beans are grown at 3000 ft and above
https://www.amazon.com/Volcanica-House-Coffee-Roasted-16-ounce/dp/B0030LIKUI
8 Coopers Coffee Company Ethiopian
The bold and contemporary packaging alone, could quite easily temp you to buy this funky and visually pleasing display of merchandising.
But take a look under the wrapping, and you will be rewarded with a bold coffee, jammed packed with indulgences that you could be forgiven for falling weak at the knees too.
Intense fragrance profiles of lemon, raw honey and floral nectar will send your senses into overload. Coopers Coffee Company Ethiopian, is lightly roasted for a punchy yet pleasant flavor.
100 % single origin beans are sourced from Goma, in the Oromia region of Ethiopia using Direct Trade to ensure farmers receive greater rates for their beans; effectively supporting local economy and future partnerships.
Batches are roasted in smaller quantities to preserve freshness and are available in 12 oz bags.
Coopers Coffee Company offer a 30 day money back guarantee if you are unsatisfied with you order.
Beans are grown at 6500 ft
9 Royal Beans
Last on our list, we have, as the name may suggest, a gourmet coffee fit for a king. 100% Arabica coffee beans are slow roasted to a medium level. The end product is a majestic balance of wine, black currant and blueberry tones finished by a chocolaty aftertaste.
Royal Beans coffee is available whole bean and in 16 oz bags
These beans hail from the Harrar region and are grown at an altitude between 1300 – 4264 ft
Which is the best Ethiopian Coffee Beans?
After this little insight into Ethiopian coffee. It’s safe to say that you’re keen to get your hands on some, and sip on the many pleasures it has to offer. It is our hope that you have gained some inspiration, and are well informed to make some suitable choices when hunting for good quality Ethiopian coffee.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ethiopian Coffee Beans:
Please take some time to look at some FAQs below, to gain some valuable knowledge before purchasing.
Q: Is there any differences in Ethiopian beans grown in different regions?
A: The main regions for growing coffee in Ethiopia are Sidamo, Yirgacheffe, Jimma, Limmu and Harrar. Each region’s coffee profile does have unique characteristics. Sidamo beans can be spicy and citric in flavor. Yirgacheffe beans may have a variety of flavors, including jasmine, lemon berry and wine. Jimma beans can also present winey tones along with nutty tastes. Limmu beans exhibit wine, spice and floral overtones, and lastly, Harrar beans express touches of floral, fruity and specifically, blackberry flavors. Other factors play major roles in how these beans may alter in taste. Growing methods, washing and drying methods and climate, can contribute to how intense these flavors will become.
Q: What is wet processing?
A: Wet processing, or washed coffee, involves washing the fresh picked coffee fruit to remove outer layers, and prepare the beans for the fermentation stage. During fermentation, the beans will lose the mucilage layer that surrounds the seed inside that we know as coffee beans. From here, beans are dried. Either naturally out in the sun, or in heated cylinders.
Q: What is the difference between washed and unwashed coffee?
A: Regarding the process, natural methods dry the full coffee fruit before extracting the bean, and skipping the steps of removing the layers separately, along with the fermentation period. It is widely considered that washed coffee produces better quality, and superior flavored beans. However, the process takes more skill, and relies on more water usage and machinery to achieve the result. In comparison, natural methods are easier, but can lead to a more lighter, smoother and subtle taste.
Q: How does Ethiopian coffee differ from other coffees? For example: Colombian or Guatemalan.
A: Generally speaking, differences in coffees can come down to many factors. In the case of these three, the obvious difference is location. Climate, soil, growing and harvesting methods all contribute to the final outcome of your coffee. A Colombian coffee is often described as being sweet and less acidic, with chocolaty and nutty profiles. Coffee from Guatemala, on the other hand, may present a balance of sweet and tart characteristics, with hints of fruity aromas. Lastly, Ethiopian coffee can be argued to have the most complex flavor profile. Full bodied flavors, complemented by fruity and floral overtones, places Ethiopian coffee among the highest quality in the world. Considering Ethiopia is the birth place of coffee, where it grows wildly as well as on dedicated farms.
It is no surprise that the native people have perfected its cultivation.
Q: What makes Arabica such good quality?
A: Arabica offers a more refined coffee experience. It will have sweeter, softer tastes and produce more desirable aromas in comparison to Robusta, that tends to be harsher in its qualities.
Q: What is Fair Trade coffee?
A: When coffee has been certified as being Fair Trade, it relates to how farmers of said coffee, receive a fair price for their product. It also means that the communities these farms belong too, also benefit from partnerships with these traders. Education, supplies and processes for mutual prosperity are part of Fair Trade deals. Farmers learn how to care for, and optimse production of their farms, while boosting local economy and improving the production of surrounding farms as well.
Q: What does single origin mean?
A: Quite simply, single origin coffee refers to coffee that is sourced from a single location. This could mean from a single grower, a single farm, or a single region from the same country. The benefit of this for the consumer, is that if you find a coffee you really enjoy, you can confidently continue to purchase it, knowing that it always comes from the same place, And thus, keeping the flavor you enjoy consistent.
Q: What is USDA organic certified?
A: USDA stands for United States Department of Agriculture. A certification label from the USDA means that the product has passed the standards required by the USDA to be considered USDA organic.