DHILGEE DANCHE, ETHIOPIA - FILTER COFFEE

This coffee comes from high altitudes, grown at elevations of 2000-2300 meters above sea level, at the Danche washing station in the Gedeo region. Typically, the growing altitude correlates with quality, as coffee cherries receive plenty of sunlight without being overly stressed by excessive heat. In this coffee, those conditions have come to fruition, resulting in an exceptionally delicious and easily drinkable coffee!

The area boasts nutrient-rich soil that yields abundant harvests. Small-scale coffee farms in the region are typically 1-2 hectares in size, with approximately 1800-2400 coffee trees per hectare. Each tree produces about 3 kg of coffee cherries. After harvesting their ripe coffee cherries, farmers bring them to the Danche washing station, where the coffee is processed for sale. The coffee is hand-sorted and pulped to separate the coffee bean from the fruit layer. Afterward, the coffee undergoes a 72-hour wet fermentation process and is washed in channels, where it is also sorted by weight. Lower-quality beans float and are separated from the higher-quality, denser beans. After washing, the beans soak in water for an additional two hours before being dried for ten days. During the drying process, defective beans are manually removed.

The Danchen washing station is owned by SNAP Coffee, founded in Addis Ababa in 2008. It is a company focused on high-quality specialty coffee and operates three washing stations in Chelelektu and two partner stations in Uraga and Nensebo. SNAP has three core principles: 1. Produce consistently high-quality specialty coffee, 2. Share knowledge and skills with the small-scale farmers they work with, and 3. Promote environmental conservation through waste recycling systems.