Ethiopian Limu Konjo coffee (FW)

Ethiopian Limu Konjo, heirloom fully washed arabica sourced via Falcon Specialty. This shipment landed mid Feb 2017 and is the 2016 harvest.

Limu, Ethiopia

From the first time Frog Quaffer tasted coffee, Limu and Yirgacheffee were the ones that he truly appreciated as great coffee.

Coffees from what is known as the Limu region are so varied that they just call it the heirloom cultivar (some call it variety, but since it is cultivated it become a cultivar) since it is too hard to categorise. It is believed that the coffees from this region are the source for all coffees in Ethiopia. Through human and animal consumption, coffee cherries and beans were chewed, and later spat out (or various other methods that do not involve a Luwak), and this spread the coffees we know and love from Ethiopia.

Limu Konjo

Falcon Specialty have quite a reputation when it comes to their ability to find special coffees. They have strong Ethiopian ties and we were lucky enough to visit their partners there Addis Export. Addis Export over 100 years of experience in exporting coffee from Ethiopia. At their cupping lab they identify special lots and give Falcon specialty first choice. Falcon then have the final say and then name the coffees they like using a taste profile definition.

The Limu Konjo (which means ‘beautiful’) comes from the East Welega zone of the Oromia region of Southern Ethiopia. Oromia produces 50% of the coffee in Ethiopia, however the coffees from this region vary dramatically depending on their original location.

Processing in this area can be either washed or natural and is done so using original methods. All methods are naturally free of chemicals. Smallholder farmers hand pick their cherries as they ripen. The picked cherries are sold to a local buyer who works with the local cooperative. Daily the cherries are processed at the cooperative who oversees the processing and sorting. The first sorting separates in to Q1 and Q2. Q1 are more dense and higher quality, these are what make up grade 1.

Then parchment is dried on raised african beds. Where it is are further sorted and any defects removed. Defects can be caused by fungus, insects or even errors in processing.

Once sorted and dried to a moisture content of around 11% the beans are sold to the ECX in parchment. Addis Exporter then purchase the top quality lots from the ECX and select the best for their Limu washed. Only once Falcon identify which lots they wnat are they milled and package and then shipped.

This Ethiopian Limu Konjo

The Konjo is one of the best examples of a Limu. With sweet floral notes and some stone fruit it is a very balanced coffee. We found the body medium to full.