THE PLANTATION
This coffee is produced at the Aricha washing station in the highlands of Yirgacheffe. Coffees from this area are appreciated for their floral notes and citrus acidity. Currently, the country has a typical “smallholder” structure, which means that numerous farmers, with generally modest production, gather their cherries together and bring them to central washing stations instead of processing the coffee with their own machinery. After picking only the ripest cherries, they are spread out in thin layers on so-called “African beds” to dry carefully until they reach about 12% humidity. During the day, the cherries are constantly turned to ensure even drying.