Ethiopia Lalesa Espresso

Tasting notes: Red currant, nectarine, pomegranate, bergamot.

Coffee breakdown:
Origin: Gedeb, Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia
Variety: Heirloom
Process: Natural
Altitude: 2150 m

This lot comes from the Lalesa washing station in Gedeb Woreda, Yirgacheffe—an area globally recognised for producing some of Ethiopia’s most distinctive and elegant coffees. At 2,150 metres above sea level, the high elevation combined with forested growing conditions and nutrient-rich soils provides the perfect setting for slow cherry maturation and complex flavour development.

The washing station is owned and operated by Alemayehu Tilahun, who brings nearly two decades of experience to his work. Alemayehu has built strong, long-term relationships with smallholder farmers in the region, ensuring only the ripest cherries are delivered to Lalesa. The coffee is processed using a traditional natural method—hand-sorted, pulped, and dried slowly on raised beds to develop sweetness and clarity.

Shade-grown under a layered forest canopy, this coffee not only benefits from a stable microclimate but also contributes to ecological sustainability in the region. It’s a standout example of how thoughtful, collaborative production in Ethiopia continues to produce exceptional results year after year.