Inflorescence Coffee Beans

Every year, the TOH African Specialty Coffee Green Bean Competition attracts the attention of countless coffee enthusiasts, because after the intense competition, high-quality coffee beans from the new season are ready to hit the market and make their way into the cups of those who love them. TOH is not only a harvest for African coffee farmers, but also a bounty for coffee lovers around the globe.

This is the 2020 TOH Washed Category Champion — washed coffee beans from the Uraga region of Ethiopia. Also known for its fruity and floral notes, it has been given a beautiful name by the market: Inflorescence. These Inflorescence coffee beans feature flavors of citrus and green tea.

The Inflorescence coffee beans come from the Uraga sub-region, a well-known area within Ethiopia’s famous Guji zone. Like the renowned Yirgacheffe region, the Guji zone is also located in the Sidamo province and has been distinguished as an independent region due to its unique coffee flavors. Although the Guji zone has been rising in prominence in recent years, its proximity to Yirgacheffe means that local coffee farmers often transport their coffee cherries to Yirgacheffe for processing.

These Uraga region washed champion beans come from the Sela Gajaba washing station in the region, one of the finest washing stations in Uraga. Since the processing at this station is carried out almost entirely indoors, the defect rate of the coffee is significantly reduced. Additionally, the beans processed using refined washed methods not only retain the traditional Ethiopian coffee characteristics of floral notes, citrus, and tea-like flavors, but also achieve greater cleanliness.

Front Street Coffee conducted a cupping session on these beans. The dry aroma is floral and citrusy, the wet aroma is citrus and roasted sweetness, and the flavors include jasmine, lemon, berries, pomelo, honey, and green tea. It’s clear that while maintaining its fruity and floral profile, the Inflorescence also delivers a complex and layered flavor experience.