Ethiopia Sidama Ayla Shantawene Washed

Stone Fruit • Citrus • Floral

Cup Profile: 

This coffee opens with a vibrant mix of stone fruit and citrus, led by white peach, lemon-lime, and soft orange. The wet aroma leans expressive and layered, showing purple fruits like blackberry and grape alongside tropical sweetness and hints of florals. Hot, the cup is clean and structured with peach, light citrus, and a subtle herbal/botanical edge—think black tea, thyme, or rosemary adding complexity without overpowering.

As the coffee cools, it becomes more aromatic and dynamic. Florals like lavender and violet emerge, paired with a mouth-watering acidity that lifts the cup. Stone fruit remains present, while the finish develops into a mix of soft spice (coriander-like), and a light dark chocolate bitterness. In cleaner brews, the profile stays crisp and articulate; with fines, the cup gains body and sweetness but becomes more rounded and slightly muddled, with a pie-like or baked-good character.

Overall, this is a clean, fruit-forward coffee with layered florals, tea-like structure, and a balanced, refreshing acidity. It leans toward a classic washed Ethiopian profile with some modern expressive qualities depending on brew clarity.

 A clean and versatile cup that highlights stone fruit, citrus, and florals with a tea-like backbone. Best clarity comes in higher-extraction, low-fines brews where the acidity feels more defined and the florals shine. With more fines, it shifts toward a heavier, rounder, slightly dessert-like profile.

About:

The washed processed coffees are depulped within 8 hours after picking and the mucilage-covered parchment is submerged in water for a 36 to 48 hour fermentation, depending on the conditions. After most of the mucilage is consumed, the coffee is fully washed in canals with running water until the water is completely transparent and all of the mucilage is completely removed from the parchment. 

After fermenting and washing, this premium coffee is laid out on raised beds under a shade net for 5 to 7 days until the moisture content is between 11 and 12%. The coffee is then moved inside a nearby warehouse for final homogenization and resting until it is ready to be transported to the dry mill.

The Ayla washing station is owned by Testi Trading and operated by the Yonis family and their team. We have had the pleasure of buying coffees from Faysel Yonis since 2015 and the coffee never disappoints! Testi Trading makes significant investments in the communities that they operate in through their Project Direct initiatives. So far they have completed construction of multiple primary schools and even the first ever high school in the town of Hamasho, a small town in Sidama.