Ethiopia
Organic Washed Sidama
Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, Chelba
Floral | Lemongrass | Green Tea | Peach
Washed · In Stock
Processing
Washed Process
Coffee fruit removed before drying. Also called wet process. Creates cleaner, brighter cups with more consistency than naturals. The baseline for evaluating origin character.
Definition
What washed process means
In washed processing, the coffee cherry's fruit is mechanically removed (depulped) within 24 hours of harvest. The seed then ferments briefly in water tanks to remove remaining mucilage, washes clean, and dries on beds or patios.
No fruit contact during drying means the cup expresses the seed's inherent character--terroir, variety, elevation--without processing flavor layered on top. Washed coffees are the standard for evaluating origin quality.
Quick specs
Fruit removal
Before drying
Fermentation
12-36 hours in tanks
Drying time
7-14 days
Cup character
Clean, bright, terroir-expressive
Also called
Wet process, fully washed
Why Roasters Care
What washed coffees offer
Consistency
Less lot-to-lot variance than naturals. Easier to match year to year. Reliable for core menu offerings.
Cleaner cup
No processing noise. Defects don't hide. What you taste is the coffee itself, not fermentation character.
Brighter acidity
Washed coffees show more defined acidity. Citrus, floral, tea-like notes come through clearly.
Roast predictability
More predictable roast development than naturals. Less adjustment needed batch to batch.
Customer expectations
"Single origin" customers often expect clean, terroir-forward profiles. Washed delivers that.
Quality benchmarking
Industry standard for evaluating origin quality. Washed profile is the reference point.
Our Approach
How we source washed coffees
YirgZ trademark
Our zero-defect washed Yirgacheffe. The famous floral, citrus character delivered consistently.
Fermentation monitoring
We source from stations that monitor fermentation carefully. Over-ferment ruins washed coffee.
Year-round availability
Washed Ethiopian coffees are available most of the year. We stock enough to serve customers consistently.
Multiple regions
Washed coffees from Yirgacheffe, Sidama, and Guji. Each region has distinct character within the washed profile.
Current Inventory
Washed coffees in stock
Deep Dive
Washed Process Coffee: The Complete Buyer's Guide
How fully washed processing shapes cup clarity, why washed lots anchor most blends, and what to check on a spec sheet before buying.
Related Terms
More Processing
Natural Process
Dried in cherry. Fruit-forward flavors, higher body.
Wet Hulled
Indonesian method. Earthy, full body, low acidity.
Decaf
Caffeine removed via water or solvent. Quality depends on process.
Swiss Water Process
Chemical-free decaf using water and carbon filters.
Fermentation
Microbial breakdown of mucilage. Key to flavor development.
Raised Beds
Elevated drying surfaces for airflow. Better quality control.
Looking for clean, consistent coffees?
Request samples and taste what well-processed washed coffees can offer.