Aricha washing station is located at 1,925 meters above sea level in Yirgacheffe. Over 300 farmers deliver cherry grown in the surrounding area. The distinct wet and dry seasons create prime conditions for coffee processing.
Farming methods in the region remain largely traditional. Yirgacheffe farmers typically intercrop their coffee plants with other food crops. This method is common among smallholders because it maximises land use and provides food for their families.
In addition to remaining traditionally intercropped, most farms are also organic-by-default. Farmers in Yirgacheffe typically use very few – if any – fertilisers or pesticides. Most farm work is done manually by the immediate family.
To capitalise on the magnificent climate, that station provides training to help farmers produce better quality cherries. Training focuses on procedures for harvesting and transporting cherries.
THE PROCESSING METHOD
Farmers selectively handpick cherry and deliver it to the washing station. At intake, employees hand sort incoming cherry to remove any under ripe or damaged cherry.
Cherry is then pulped and fermented for 36 to 48 hours in the station’s 12 standardised fermenting tanks. After fermentation, parchment is washed in clean water and transferred to some of the station’s 280 raised drying beds. Parchment is raked frequently to ensure even drying. It takes approximately 18 days for parchment to dry. The station marks all drying beds with a code that makes it simple to keep track of traceability and processing status.
All accepted cherries are then laid to dry in thin layers on raised beds for approximately 18 days. The station has 280 drying beds. Each bed is marked with a code that makes it simple to keep track of traceability and processing status.
Specialty coffee, 100% Arabica, carefully grown in a precise geographical area, carefully picked, processed, selected, and freshly roasted, in small batches, specific to the origin and method of processing.
Delivery: We deliver daily from Monday to Friday in the country by express courier within 1-2 working days. For orders above 200 lei the delivery is free
