Koke Shalaye, Ethipoia

Process: Washed 

Notes: Tangerine, Berries, Green Apple

Ethiopian coffee from the Yirgacheffe region is always a big hit at the roastery & Koke Shalaye really stood out for us on the cupping table this season.

At 1,973 meters above sea level, Koke Shalaye station in Yirgacheffe serves as a hub for nearly 1,900 smallholder farmers who deliver their freshly picked coffee cherries.

These farmers typically cultivate Jarc 74110, 74112, and 74165—sub-varieties of Ethiopia’s renowned heirloom coffees—on small garden plots surrounding their homes. Each harvest reflects both the deep agricultural heritage of the region and the collective care of the farming community, resulting in coffees that capture the distinct character of Yirgacheffe.

The kebele of Koke lies within the Yirgacheffe district of the Gedeo Zone, in Ethiopia’s Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region (SNNP). Over the years, Yirgacheffe has earned a distinguished reputation for producing exceptional coffees, with some of the world’s most sought-after microlots originating here. Its unique combination of high elevations—reaching up to 2,200 meters in certain areas—fertile soils, steady rainfall, and generations of local expertise all contribute to the celebrated quality of coffees from this region.

Here, indigenous Ethiopian heirloom varieties flourish, many of which still grow wild in the area. These varietals are the foundation of Yirgacheffe’s distinctive flavor profile.