Organic Ethiopia Danche

What We Love

There’s no coffee like Ethiopian coffee.

Simply put, Ethiopian coffee sparks wonder in us with every sip. Its ability to express astonishing flavors of ripe stone fruits, crystal-clear citrus, and aromatic florality makes it not only one of our personal favorites, but also one of the finest coffees we work with each year. This selection from Danche reminds us once again why Ethiopia is such a special place, and why we wait each year with great anticipation for its return to our roastery.

In the cup we taste the refreshing juiciness of summer-harvest peach, followed by an illuminating note of candied orange, and finishing with an elegant aroma of bergamot.

About the Coffee

Ethiopia is the genetic homeland of all coffee. It’s easy to understand why its coffees are so exceptional—completely distinct in both flavor and aroma compared to coffees grown anywhere else in the world. Heirloom trees, growing in their original environment, offer flavor experiences that are impossible to replicate.

Coffee is cultivated throughout Ethiopia, with each region offering something unique in the cup. Some would say every community has its own flavor. As the country’s coffee culture has grown and evolved, we now have greater access than ever to small selections from specific areas that highlight these unique profiles.

The Gedeb woreda, located in the far south of the country, is one of the best-known regions for coffees of exceptional quality. From Gedeb come many familiar names: Halo Hartume, Halo Beriti, Chelbessa, Idido, and Worka Sakaro, just to name a few. But among these remarkable places, Danche stands out as one of our most cherished.

Late last year, our Wonderstate team visited the Danche Washing Station and saw firsthand the energy that lives in this place and is transmuted into the coffees produced here. The flavors we find in Danche reflect the stunning landscape immemorial Ethiopia: steep hills, dramatic valleys, and small villages nestled within lush forests of native vegetation. The farms surrounding Danche are small, garden-like plots, with just a few hundred trees grown in an organic and largely passive manner.

There’s something awe-inspiring about how these traditional methods continue to produce such vivid expressions of flavor. The beauty of Danche is undeniable, with the three story “Danche Tree” growing next to the washing station, a testament to the eternal nature of this area. This selection from the Danche Washing Station is a direct expression of coffee’s deep-rooted, almost mystic qualities that have become intertwined with the history and culture of Ethiopia.

Producer

This is our fourth consecutive year purchasing from the Danche community, located in the southernmost coffee-growing region of Gedeb. Over years of tastings, we’ve found that the coffees from this community showcase everything we love about classically washed Ethiopian profiles.

Farm sizes are exceptionally small. Most families tend only a few hundred trees, cultivated in garden-like plots under a canopy of native trees. Despite their size, these family-managed, organic farms consistently express the inspiring and ancestral qualities that define Ethiopian coffee.

Several hundred smallholder farmers deliver ripe cherries to the centralized Danche Washing Station. There, the coffee is hand-sorted, de-pulped, fermented in water for 36 hours, and dried carefully to optimal moisture levels. The process is simple and intentional, designed to let the coffee speak for itself.

What you’ll find in this cup is a true expression of Danche. No frills. No tricks. Just clarity, complexity, and a lasting sense of wonder.