Ethiopian Coffee Recommendations:

Ethiopian coffee is some of the best, most unique coffee in the world.  There are a lot of options out there but here is a list of some of the best and my personal favorite Ethiopian coffees available today.

Coava Coffee Roasters:  Portland OR

1. Kilenso

Kilenso is a natural processed coffee from the Sidama region.  This is a classic example of an Ethiopian natural with big, bold flavors of blueberry, grape juice, brown sugar and caramel.  This is one of the best Ethiopian coffees out there and is one of the coffees that I remember exactly where I was the first time I had it.  It’s that good.

2. Meaza

Meaza is another awesome offering by Coava.  You won’t find the same big bold berry notes in this washed coffee.  Instead, expect flavors of lemon zest, ginger, and a bit of a honeysuckle floral note.  Excellent example of what a high-quality Ethiopian washed coffee tastes like.  But Meaza probably isn’t as memorable as Kilenso.

Anchorhead Coffee:  Seattle WA

1. Allona Natural 

2. Allona Washed

Anchorhead Coffee does something pretty unique.  They offer a washed and a natural processed coffee from the Guji region of Ethiopia.  Same coffee plants, same growing conditions, same everything except one big difference: the processing method.  The Allona natural isn’t a blueberry bomb at all, but it is fruity!  The one takes me to the beach or a tropical island–subtle tropical flavors like dried pineapple, toasted coconut, and milk chocolate.  The Allona washed sticks with that tropical vibe but switches it up a bit.  I get a bit of lychee fruit, lemon peal, and maybe lemongrass on this one.  By offering both of these coffees the team at Anchorhead gives you a pretty cool opportunity to take the difference just the processing technique can make!

Madcap Coffee:  Grand Rapids MI

Nano Challa

Nano Challa is a gorgeous floral and fruity washed Ethiopian coffee from the Jima region, which we didn’t talk much about on this episode.  Expect citrus flavors mixed with honey, honeysuckle and jasmine in this amazing coffee.

Black Oak Coffee Roasters:  Ukiah CA

Last but certainly not least, I strongly recommend Black Oak Coffee Roasters, the winners of the Golden Bean North American Coffee Roasting Championship.  It’s a big deal to win this thing and it means the coffee they submitted to this competition was judged as the best of the best by other coffee roasters.

And the coffee they won with….you guessed it: Ethiopian coffee.  And this coffee is available for you to buy from their website today.  The folks at Black Oak Coffee Roasters are offering all of you 10% off of your order of their three Ethiopian coffees if you use the promo code ROASTANDREASON.

1. Chelelektu Natural

Chelelektu natural, THE Golden Bean, the best all around specialty coffee at the North American Golden Bean Championship certainly lives up to the hype.  This is one of the fruitiest, juiciest coffees I have ever tasted with flavors of blueberry pie, strawberry juices, and mixed berry jam.  Just a sweet juicy berry bomb.  Absolutely delicious and unique.

2. Hambela Alaka

Hambela Alaka is an amazing, award-winning coffee in its own right.  This washed coffee from the border of the Sidamo and Guji regions has an amazing, unique flavor of green tea, jasmine, and I get a bit of candy peach rings mixed with candy root beer barrels.  Amazing, complex coffee.  I cannot recommend this one enough, it might be my favorite of the three!

3. Adame Gorbota

This coffee from the Yirgacheffe region is complex and delicious as well.  I get flavors of limeade, citrus blossom, black tea, and sugarcane.

 

I really encourage you to give one or a few of these coffees a shot, especially now that you know more about Ethiopia and the history, growing regions, and what makes Ethiopian coffee so delicious and unique.  And don’t forget the promo code ROASTANDREASON if you choose to order coffee from Black Oak.