Ethiopia Sidama Yaye G1 - Special Prep (Single Origin Espresso)

About This Single Origin 

Ethiopia Sidama Yaye G1 - Special Prep

ROAST:  Espresso Roast
PROCESS: Natural
REGION:  Sidama

ELEVATION: 2300

VARIETAL: 74158

CUP:  Floral, Bergamot, Red Fruit, Blackberry

Established in 2021, Yaye Washing Station is a showcase of precision and experimentation in Ethiopian coffee processing. Its most ambitious work to date is the Odakko Project—the result of four years of research and pre-harvest planning between Testi Coffee and Cafe Imports. The vision was clear: to produce a truly traceable, single-variety coffee, harvested at peak ripeness, and processed with absolute intentionality to unlock a one-of-one flavor profile.

This pioneering lot comes from 50 smallholder farmers in the villages of Yaye and Chericho, who grow the 74518 variety at altitudes of 2150–2300 MASL. Over a carefully managed four-day harvest window, cherries were delivered daily between 3:00 and 7:00 PM to avoid unwanted fermentation, then floated, hand-sorted, and dried with uncompromising care.

Yaye’s reputation rests on its immaculate infrastructure: raised beds, fermentation barrels, and spotless washing facilities designed for both quality and consistency. Testi estimates that nearly 40% of green defects originate from contamination or fungal exposure during processing. To combat this, cleanliness is non-negotiable—staff wash hands and equipment before every use, cherries are rinsed in potable water rather than river water, and every surface from tanks to shade nets is sanitized before contact.

The Odakko cherries were spread on drying beds at just 300 kg per bed, then painstakingly sorted to a 95% ripe / 5% overripe ratio—balancing sweetness with complexity. Shade nets and airflow from the wind-exposed location slowed the drying process to an extended 28 days, guiding the beans to an ideal 12% moisture content. After drying, the coffee rested for six weeks before being sealed in GrainPro bags and sent to Addis Ababa for milling.

The result is a cup that reflects every deliberate choice: red fruits layered with bergamot depth, blackberry-like acidity, and a gentle, sugary sweetness.

But Odakko is more than just flavor—it is also community. A premium from this project directly supports Testi Coffee’s social initiatives, funding schools, educational programs, and supplies for children in the villages around their stations.

With its blend of technical precision, sensory excellence, and social responsibility, the Yaye Odakko Project positions Yaye Washing Station as one of the most exciting names in Ethiopia’s new wave of specialty coffee.