Our latest EA decaf is something special and new to us, a naturally processed (dried in the skin) Ethiopian coffee from the Jimma zone. Jimma is one of the traditional coffee producing regions of Ethiopia, situated north of the famous Yirgacheffe.

This particular mill - Telila Washing Station - is situated near Kecho Anderacha in Gera woreda. the washing station is owned by Mike Mamo. Mike is a coffee exporter and also partner in Osito, the importer for this coffee. In 2019 he decided to buy this Washing Station, and this year we were fortunate to sample this natural from Telila sent for EA decaffeination at DESCAFECOL in Manazales.

The actual process requires the coffee to be first 'steamed' to open up its pores. Next, the E.A. is applied via water, which dissolves the caffeine in the green coffee. Then the caffeine is separated and filtered from the tank. Finally, the now-decaffeinated seeds are steamed again to remove any residual E.A. before being dried and shipped.

Most of the cherry being delivered are one of two varieties; Gibirinna 74110 and Serto 74112. Both of these are from the Metu Bishari selections made in the forest of the same name in the Illubabor Zone by the Jimma Agricultural Research Center (JARC) in 1974. They were selected for their resistance to Coffee Berry Disease. Now they are some of the most propagated varieties in Ethiopia.