Ethiopia Yirga Cheffe Chelchele

This washed lot from Chelchele is classic Yirga Cheffe coffee, honey-sweet, delicate, with aromatic fruit and floral accents. At City roast level, the dry fragrance is packed with raw honey notes, accented by aromatic whole clove, loose leaf herbal teas, and Allspice. The sweetness in the wet aroma is creamy, like warm honey, with notes of maple syrup, sweetened chamomile tea, and a light floral fragrance revealed on the break. Much of the aromatic profile carries over into the cup flavors. Rounded sweetness is characterized by a flavor of white honey, and builds a balanced base for bright accents to play off. Layers of fruit build in the cup, like green melon, lemon, apricot tea, and crisp Asian pear. Citrus notes inform the acidic impression, coming off bright and refreshing rather than sharp. Chelchele has a lovely cup aroma, highlighted by perfumed notes of fresh hops, cherry blossom, and a hint of star jasmine, along with a sweet-spice flavor that brings to mind sweetened ginger chew candies. The cup has amazing clarity and sweetness, and one to be kept to a light roast. I pulled my lightest roast 1 minute 30 seconds after the start of 1st Crack in my ROEST, and I think I'd shoot for closer to 1 minute in a Behmor if you're cooling in the roast chamber. Weight loss was 12-12.5%. A slightly darker roast was pulled after 2 minutes and 10 seconds of cracking and lost about 14% weight post-roast (City+). It brought out amber honey, and creamy fruits, like cherimoya and ripe banana, and roast-toned cocoa accents.