Introduction:This article provides an in-depth analysis of the unique flavor profile of Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Aricha G1 natural process coffee beans, covering everything from their origin and processing to how they are preserved before roasting. You’ll also learn about the story behind this highly rated bean. Additionally, we introduce Project Origin, an initiative launched by World Barista Champion Sasa Sestic, which supports farmers directly by offering purchase prices above market rates, while fostering deeper connections between roasters and coffee growers—ensuring that every sip of coffee you enjoy is meaningful.
In Ethiopia’s Yirgacheffe region, the Kebel Aricha washing station serves as a key hub for local smallholder farmers, gathering the hard-earned harvests of approximately 650 to 700 farming households. These farmers carefully handpick ripe red cherries and deliver them to the washing station in exchange for fair compensation. The station then follows traditional natural processing methods, meticulously selecting high-quality berries and evenly spreading them on raised African beds to begin a four to six-week sun-drying process.
During the initial days of sun drying, workers manually turn the coffee cherries every two to three hours to ensure even heat distribution and to prevent over-fermentation or mold. This careful attention allows the Aricha G1 natural beans to retain a clear and rich spectrum of fruity aromas throughout the drying period. Once the cherries reach the ideal moisture level, the fruit is mechanically removed, and the beans are properly stored in Addis Ababa—typically remaining in parchment form until just before export to preserve freshness and flavor integrity.
These Aricha G1 natural beans have been rigorously evaluated by the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX) and awarded the highest grade certification. Whether it's the uniformity of the green beans, their drying condition, or their dry and wet aroma profiles, all are of top-tier quality. If you love coffee with pronounced acidity and intense berry flavors, this high-altitude natural-processed bean is definitely worth savoring.
In terms of flavor, the Aricha G1 natural bean exhibits a rich and layered profile. The cup opens with subtle fermented wine-like notes, accompanied by elegant hints of stone fruits and sweet citrus. This is followed by layers of dark berries, lychee, starfruit, peach, and nectarine that unfold progressively. The finish leaves a honey-like sweetness and a soft cocoa aftertaste, skillfully blended with a touch of spice. The overall cup is full-bodied and has a long, lingering finish—making it perfect for coffee lovers who appreciate a balanced combination of fruitiness and sweetness.
Beyond introducing this premium natural-processed bean, this article also aims to familiarize you with Project Origin, an initiative founded by 2015 World Barista Champion Sasa Sestic. At its core, the project collaborates directly with coffee farmers in impoverished growing regions around the world—not only offering purchase prices that are 20% higher than fair trade rates, but also focusing on improving farmers’ production environments and techniques to ensure they can consistently grow high-quality coffee beans.
The original vision of Project Origin was not only to increase farmer incomes, but also to strengthen communication and connection between roasters and coffee growers. This enables roasters to gain a deeper understanding of the planting and processing stories behind each coffee, and thus accurately highlight the unique characteristics of every origin. To date, Sasa and his team have established stable partnerships with coffee growers in eight countries—including Brazil, Panama, India, Ethiopia, El Salvador, and Costa Rica—and continue to drive the development of a sustainable coffee supply chain.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
