Ethiopia Sidamo Shantawene Filter

Tasting notes: Strawberries, lemonade.

Coffee breakdown:
Origin: Sidamo, Ethiopia
Variety: Ethiopian Landraces
Process: Natural
Producer: Smallholder farmers

Ethiopia is renowned for its beautiful natural-processed microlots, making it tough for any single lot to stand out. Yet, some of our all-time favorite Ethiopian nattys have come from Sidamo—and this offering from Shantawene Village will show you why.

Sidamo is one of Ethiopia’s three trademarked coffee regions, holding a Designation of Origin, and is known for its diverse and complex flavor profiles. Grown at elevations of 1600 to 2,200 meters, Sidamo benefits from fertile soil, abundant rainfall, and a rich coffee heritage. The region’s microclimates and landrace varieties create distinctive flavors that vary from town to town. When blended at local cooperatives, the result is a cup with remarkable depth and complexity.

Farming in Sidamo remains largely traditional. Smallholder farmers intercrop coffee with other food crops, maximizing their land while maintaining organic-by-default practices. Most farm work is done manually, with little mechanization during processing.

Lying within Ethiopia’s lush Great Rift Valley, Sidamo’s landscape is dotted with freshwater lakes that sustain both agriculture and the region’s dense population. This ancient terrain, a cradle of early civilization, continues to produce some of the most vibrant and sought-after coffees in the world. This beautiful cup tastes like ripe strawberries and syrupy sweet homemade lemonade.