Uraga - Anaerobic Natural - Ethiopia

About this coffee

Some info from our importer:
Uraga station employees select only ripe, red cherry for Anaerobic Natural processing. The sealed, oxygen-less environment encourages specific microbial interactions, often resulting in bright, fruity Naturals with complex floral and citrus notes.

Our in-country partner, Tracon Coffee, has been experimenting with new processing methods as a way to increase value and stand out among a growing number of specialty washing stations in Ethiopia. Tracon has been trialing anaerobic fermentation with several of their washing stations in Yirgacheffe since 2015.
Uraga washing station receives cherry from farmers in the surrounding region. The station is located in Guji, a coffee-growing region that was once part of Yirgacheffe but whose microclimate produces such unique coffee, that it was allocated as its own coffee-growing region.

Harvest & Post Harvest

Farmers selectively handpick ripe cherry and deliver it to the station. At intake, employees visually inspect cherry and accept only fully ripe cherry for anaerobic fermentation. Selected cherry is tightly packed in GrainPro bags and sealed shut. Cherry ferments anaerobically (without oxygen) for 18 to 24 hours.
After fermentation, cherry is carefully removed from bags and laid to dry in direct sunlight on raised beds. Workers turn cherry frequently to promote even drying. It takes approximately 2 to 3 weeks for cherry to dry.