History attributes Ethiopia as coffee’s birthplace in 850 AD. A young goat herder named Kaldi noticed increased energy and liveliness in his flock after munching on coffee beans. Kaldi gave the beans a try, noticed the effects, and the world’s infatuation with coffee had begun. Located within Sidama, Yirgacheffe is a small region in southern Ethiopia where the beans thrive. The plants grow naturally thanks to its thick vegetation, healthy soil, and high elevations. Ethiopia provides a warm and tropical climate with moderate wet and dry seasons.

Since the climate is ideal, Yirgacheffe plants can be harvested without agricultural chemicals. Yirgacheffe beans are harvested from October through December. If you’re looking for a green and organic coffee, Yirgacheffe is an excellent choice.

Coffee is Ethiopia’s biggest export. In 2008, the Ethiopia commodities market officially began trading coffee. Today, Ethiopia is the world’s fifth largest coffee-producing nation and grows the most coffee in Africa. It produces 846,575,000 pounds of coffee per year. About 15 million Ethiopian citizens work in coffee production.