YirgZ Zero Defect Standard | Washed Yirgacheffe Excellence

The Problem

Famous-name disappointment

Roasters buy "Yirgacheffe" expecting citrus clarity and floral elegance. Too often they get muddy cups, hidden defects, or coffee that doesn't match the reputation.

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Name doesn't guarantee quality: "Yirgacheffe" is a region label, not a quality standard. Anyone can use it.

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Grade 2 gets sold as specialty: Many "Yirgacheffe" lots are Grade 2 with defects that show up in the cup.

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No accountability: Generic regional coffee changes every shipment. No one's reputation is on the line.

What roasters tell us

"I bought 'Yirgacheffe' from three different importers. None of them tasted like what I expected."

"The cupping sample was great. The production lot wasn't."

"My customers know 'Yirgacheffe' should taste a certain way. I can't keep disappointing them."

The Solution

What "zero defect" actually means

YirgZ isn't just Grade 1. It's coffee that's been sorted beyond standard grading requirements. Here's the difference:

Standard Grade 1

Up to 3 full defects allowed per 300g sample. Some quakers, some insect damage—acceptable within spec.

YirgZ Zero Defect

Additional hand-sorting after export milling. We pull the defects that Grade 1 allows. The cup has to be clean.

YirgZ at a glance

Origin Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia

Process Washed

Grade Zero Defect (beyond G1)

Producers YCFCU cooperatives

Status Trademarked

The Process

How YirgZ quality happens

01

Source selection

We buy from YCFCU—the Yirgacheffe Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union. 20+ year relationship. They know our standards.

02

Origin cupping

Sam cups at origin before we commit. Looking for: citrus clarity, floral notes, clean finish. No compromises.

03

Additional sorting

After standard export milling, we request additional hand-sorting. Pull the quakers. Pull the insect damage. Get to zero.

04

Arrival verification

Every YirgZ lot gets re-cupped in Baltimore. Arrival sample must match origin sample. If it doesn't, we investigate.

05

Trademark protection

YirgZ is our trademark. Only coffee that meets our standard gets the name. Our reputation is on the line with every bag.

06

Climate-controlled storage

Washed coffees need proper storage too. Consistent temperature and humidity preserve the brightness you're paying for.

The Cup

What Yirgacheffe should taste like

Citrus Bergamot Jasmine Tea-like Clean finish

The washed Yirgacheffe profile: bright citrus acidity, floral aromatics, tea-like body. Elegant, not heavy. Clean, not muddy.

Body

Light, silky

Acidity

Bright, citric

Finish

Clean, crisp

YirgZ vs generic Yirgacheffe

✓ Consistent lot to lot — Same profile every shipment

✓ No hidden defects — Zero defect sorting standard

✓ Traceable source — YCFCU cooperatives, known producers

✓ Accountable — Trademarked name, our reputation

Current Inventory

YirgZ and washed Ethiopian lots

Ethiopia

Washed GUJI

Oromia, Bensa

Black Tea | Floral | Bergamot

Fully washed · In Stock

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YirgZ™ Zero Defect Standard