Ethiopian Queen City Harrar Natural Grade 4 Coffee 

5 lbs. Fresh, Unroasted, Green Coffee Beans

Dark chocolate with hints of cinnamon and dried cherry...a delicious cup of coffee!

Heavy-bodied, spicy and fragrant, Ethiopian Harrar coffee is a wild and exotic dry processed (natural) 100% Arabica coffee that is grown on small farms in the Oromia region (formerly Harrar) in southern Ethiopia at elevations between 4,500 and 6,300 feet. The province of Harrar, is east of Addis Ababa, the country’s capitol.

Ethiopian Harrar coffee is known for its winey and fruity, floral-toned acidity—bright in the cup), even intense—and with a rich and pungent, heady aroma that is wonderfully reminiscent of blackberries.

The Harrar coffees are considered power house coffees, exhibiting a bold taste that resonates in the cup. Being sun-dried, these coffees exhibit a complex, wild fruitiness that is unmistakable, though sometimes a bit muted.

A fine Harrar coffee has a very interesting dry edge to it, and sometimes a surprisingly pleasant, slightly fermented aftertaste including intense notes of jasmine.

The flavors and aromas of Harrar also suggest notes of blueberries and apricots—and the intense aromatics make it a popular choice for espresso blends.

"Ethiopian Harrar" is a coffee bean of the arabica plant species that is grown in the region/province of Harrar in the Eastern highlands of Ethiopia.. It is one of the oldest coffee beans still produced and is known for its distinctive fruity, wine flavour. The bean is medium in size, with a greenish-yellowish colour. It has medium acidity and full body and a distinctive mocha flavour. Harrar is a dry-processed/natural coffee bean, with sorting and processing done almost entirely by hand. Though processing is done by hand, the laborers are extremely knowledgeable of how each bean is categorized. Harrar beans can be divided into three categories: Longberry, Shortberry, and Mocha. Longberry varieties consist of the largest beans and are often considered of the highest quality, in both value and flavor. In some cases this is true but more often than not it's just a marketing pitch. It is one of the highest valued coffees in the world. It is known for having very distinct aromas and flavors of chocolate, spices, and a complex of citrus notes.

Testimonial: Of the three coffees on that final table, one was from East Harrar, one from West Harrar, and one from Arsi. Most of the cuppers, myself included, gave all these coffees a score of 80 or above, qualifying them as "specialty grade." I very much enjoyed the West Harrar coffee, and found the Arsi coffee to be perfectly fine.

But it was the East Harrar coffee that truly stood out. This is the magical flavor profile that buyers in the States are so desirous of, and so frustrated about when they cannot find it. Think blueberries, cherries, chocolate. The mouth feel is rich and creamy, and the flavors relatively heavy, but the acidity still has a bright clarity that enlivens the whole cup. The aroma notes I wrote included toast, honey, caramel, and the aforementioned berries and chocolate. I'm a pretty harsh grader most of the time, but this coffee was to me a solid 89.

Most of the class agreed. I had a conversation today with a friend here about not wanting to ignore the very good quality that comes out of West Harrar and Arsi. There are some excellent specialty grade coffees to be had from this region, and they are at risk of being overshadowed by East Harrar, which would be a shame. But I have to give credit where credit is due. The East Harrar coffee is indeed special. My few sips from the cupping cup I had of it were the most memorable sips I have had in a week of excellent coffee here.

Did you know??:

Ground roasted beans lose their optimal flavor in about 2 days.
Whole roasted beans lose their optimal flavor in about 2-3 weeks.
If your coffee wasn't roasted just before you purchased it, chances are, it isn't fresh. The difference in flavor between fresh coffee and stale coffee is not subtle. Did you know that without fresh coffee, your espresso machine will have a hard time producing that thick crema you are trying so hard to achieve? Drip, French Press, Vacuum or espresso - every brewing method will produce better results with fresh coffee. That is why we custom roast to your order. Or try purchasing our carefully selected green beans and roast at home.

Recommended Roasting: Medium to French Roast...excellent and a must try!