Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Konga Qawissa Washed G1

Explore the vibrant character of Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Konga Qawissa Washed G1, an exceptional coffee bursting with brightness and complexity. Sweet lemon and jasmine unfold alongside herbal black tea, while enticing aromas of cinnamon spice and fresh citrus draw you in. As the cup cools, Mike found it truly comes alive—revealing sweet lemon drop, fragrant florals, bergamot, and juicy undertones of sweet orange for a beautifully expressive finish.

Our Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Washed Konga Qawissa coffee is produced by 800 small farmers in the Konga Sedie village, located in the larger Gedeo zone. It is a lot of mixed heirloom varieties, which are handpicked, washed, fermented and dried on raised beds with simulated shade netting for 21 days at the Adorsi-Testi Wash Station. The coffee cherries are carefully managed while immersed in the fermentation tanks, taking great care to remove lower quality cherries prior to their placement on the raised beds. The wash station and high-altitude farms are located at elevations above 1,900 m. In the cup look for floral notes of jasmine and orange. Workers at the Adorsi-Testi Wash Station monitor the fermentation process, as well as raised beds to ensure that the lot dries evenly and produces a great cup profile. Both wash station and farms are located at elevations above 1,900 to over 2,100m.

Yirgacheffe literally translated as “Land of Many Springs,” Yirgacheffe is renowned for its ideal combination of high elevation, rich terrain, and abundant water sources—all contributing to exceptional coffee production. Located within Ethiopia’s Gedeo Zone, the region is home to generations of small-scale coffee farmers, many cultivating just a few hectares of land. Coffee remains the area’s primary agricultural industry, with celebrated growing communities such as Kochere helping establish Yirgacheffe as one of Ethiopia’s most distinguished coffee origins. The Yirgacheffe district (or “woreda”) is part of the Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR) within the larger Gedeo Zone, named after the Gedeo people. The SNNPR shares a border with Uganda to the west, Kenya to the south and the Oromia region to the east. Coffee production remains the primary agricultural industry in the SNNPR, which also claims the well known village of Kochere.

Our in-country partner 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. They have been trialing anaerobic fermentation with several of their washing stations in Yirgacheffe since 2015. Uraga washing station receives cherries 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. Farming methods in the region remain largely traditional. Guji farmers typically intercrop their coffee plants with other food crops. This method is common among smallholders because it maximizes land use and provides food for their families. In addition to remaining traditionally intercropped, most farms are also organic-by-default. Farmers in Guji typically use very few—if any—fertilizers or pesticides.

Most farm work is done manually by the immediate family.

To capitalize on the magnificent climate, Uraga washing station provides training to help farmers produce better quality cherries. Training focuses on procedures for harvesting and transporting cherries. While Ethiopia is famous as coffee’s birthplace, today it remains a specialty coffee industry darling for its incredible variety of flavors. While full traceability has been difficult in recent history, new regulations have made direct purchasing possible. We’re partnering directly with farmers to help them produce top quality specialty lots that are now completely traceable, adding value for farmers and roasters alike. The exceptional quality of Ethiopian coffee is due to a combination of factors. The genetic diversity of coffee varieties means that we find a diversity of flavor, even between (or within) farms with similar growing conditions and processing. In addition to varieties, processing methods also contribute to end quality. The final key ingredients for excellent coffee in Ethiopia are the producing traditions that have created the genetic diversity, processing infrastructure, and great coffee we enjoy today. Most producers in Ethiopia are smallholders, and the majority continue to cultivate coffee using traditional methods. As a result, most coffee is grown without chemical fertilizer or pesticide use. Coffee is almost entirely cultivated, harvested, and dried using manual systems.

Our Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Washed Konga Qawissa coffee is produced by 800 small farmers in the Konga Sedie village, located in the larger Gedeo zone. It is a lot of mixed heirloom varieties, which are handpicked, washed, fermented and dried on raised beds with simulated shade netting for 21 days at the Adorsi-Testi Wash Station. The coffee cherries are carefully managed while immersed in the fermentation tanks, taking great care to remove lower quality cherries prior to their placement on the raised beds. The wash station and high-altitude farms are located at elevations above 1,900 m. In the cup look for floral notes of jasmine and orange. Workers at the Adorsi-Testi Wash Station monitor the fermentation process, as well as raised beds to ensure that the lot dries evenly and produces a great cup profile. Both wash station and farms are located at elevations above 1,900 to over 2,100m.

Yirgacheffe literally translated as “Land of Many Springs,” Yirgacheffe is renowned for its ideal combination of high elevation, rich terrain, and abundant water sources—all contributing to exceptional coffee production. Located within Ethiopia’s Gedeo Zone, the region is home to generations of small-scale coffee farmers, many cultivating just a few hectares of land. Coffee remains the area’s primary agricultural industry, with celebrated growing communities such as Kochere helping establish Yirgacheffe as one of Ethiopia’s most distinguished coffee origins. The Yirgacheffe district (or “woreda”) is part of the Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR) within the larger Gedeo Zone, named after the Gedeo people. The SNNPR shares a border with Uganda to the west, Kenya to the south and the Oromia region to the east. Coffee production remains the primary agricultural industry in the SNNPR, which also claims the well known village of Kochere.

The Sustainability Mission
Our goal is to provide the world’s best coffee through a commitment to sustainability and the economic empowerment of the world’s coffee producers.

We achieve this by providing growers with responsible and sustainable premiums, direct service, and Vournas’ 20+ year record of integrity and respect.

We believe that exceptional specialty coffee requires authenticity, loyalty and compassion. Coffees that carry the Vournas seal represent our commitment to quality, sustainability, and a belief in a better tomorrow, sealed with an honest handshake.

Environmental Sustainability
We work with growers who use sustainable methods of production that are designed to minimize their impact on the environment. Having been at this for 20 some years, we are able to provide guidance on potential resources for growers across the globe.

Healthy ecosystems begin with clean water. Though coffee producing wastewater contains only natural elements, it can disrupt the natural balance of lakes and streams, so filters and holding ponds are commonly used.

Through the use of root bending, selective pruning and the use of natural shade, farmers are able to produce stronger, more sustainable crops. By planting tall shade trees, like banana, farmers create biodiversity and new habitats for birds, bees and everything in between. A single coffee plantation can support hundreds of species of plants and animals.

Economic & Social Sustainability
Fair Trade is structured to improve quality, promote sustainability, and help producers achieve better pricing and standards of living. We support Fair Trade efforts and go above and beyond Fair Trade standards to provide our farmers with economically sustainable levels of pricing and premiums. As a result, we have maintained our farming relationships and empowered coffee growing communities for generations.