Washed Yirgacheffe Dama Coop G2 Coffee Review

If you’ve tasted a bright Ethiopian coffee with floral and citrus notes, chances are it came from Yirgacheffe—a region celebrated for its distinct flavor profile. But what makes a specific lot like this washed Dama Coop stand out in a market flooded with Ethiopian beans? The answer lies in the farmers, processing methods, and cooperative structure behind the cup.

This Dama Coop G2 washed Yirgacheffe delivers lemon peel, dried longan, jasmine, kumquat, black tea, and a sweet, juicy finish. Expect layered acidity and a fruity-floral profile with a clean, lingering sweetness.

Where Is Yirgacheffe Coffee From?

Yirgacheffe is both a town and a coffee-growing zone within Ethiopia’s Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, specifically within the Gedeo Zone. It became globally recognized for its high-altitude-grown coffees exhibiting floral, citrus, and tea-like qualities. In 2009, Ethiopia established the ECX (Ethiopian Commodity Exchange), separating Yirgacheffe from neighboring Sidamo and officially recognizing smaller micro-regions like Kochere, Wenago, and Gelena Abaya due to their unique cup profiles.

Despite the ECX auction system governing much of Ethiopia’s coffee trade, cooperatives—including Dama Coop—can bypass it. They sell directly to buyers, maintaining control over pricing and quality.

What Is the Dama Coop?

The Dama Coop is part of the Yirgacheffe Coffee Farmers Cooperatives Union (YCFCU), which represents over 50,000 farmers from around 300,000 households across more than 26 cooperatives in the Gedeo Zone. Established in 1979 and joining YCFCU in 2002, Dama Coop consists of 1,728 male and 237 female smallholder farmers cultivating coffee on less than four hectares each, at elevations between 1,800 and 2,200 metres.

The cooperative primarily grows a mix of Typica and local Heirloom varieties—Ethiopia’s traditional, uncategorized landrace cultivars. Every one to two years, members elect an executive committee to manage equipment purchases, transaction processes, and payments. YCFCU also assigns professional managers to offer guidance on harvest and production techniques, improving both yield and cup quality. By pooling resources, Dama Coop protects its members from low buyer prices and can even provide loans during tough times.

How Is This Coffee Processed?

This particular lot is processed using the washed (or wet) method—a hallmark of Ethiopian specialty coffee. In washed processing, ripe cherries are depulped, fermented to remove mucilage, thoroughly washed, and then dried on raised beds. This method highlights the bean’s intrinsic acidity and clarity, leading to the vibrant fruit and floral characteristics typical of Yirgacheffe.

The result is a Grade 2 (G2) export classification coffee, the standard commercial grade in Ethiopia, which still meets high cup quality thresholds despite being above the premium Grade 1.

What Does This Coffee Taste Like?

Expect a bright, complex cup: leading aromas and flavours include lemon peel, jasmine, black tea, dried longan, kumquat, and a underlying note of black tea. Acidity is crisp and well-defined, with layers of citrus and stone fruit. The sweetness carries through the finish, leaving a clean, fruity aftertaste. This is a classic example of why Yirgacheffe coffees are sought after by pour-over enthusiasts and single-origin drinkers alike.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Yirgacheffe coffee region in Ethiopia?

Yirgacheffe is a town and coffee-growing area within Ethiopia’s Gedeo Zone, part of the Southern Nations region. It is renowned for producing high-altitude coffees with bright acidity, floral notes, and citrus flavours. In 2009, it was administratively separated from Sidamo under Ethiopia’s ECX system to highlight its distinct cup profile.

What is the Dama Coop?

Dama Coop is a coffee growers’ cooperative with 1,728 male and 237 female members, located in Yirgacheffe. Founded in 1979 and part of the YCFCU since 2002, it focuses on sustainable farming at 1,800–2,200m altitude, growing Typica and Heirloom coffee varieties. The coop provides economic protection and access to better pricing for its smallholder farmers.

How is Ethiopian G2 coffee graded?

Ethiopian coffee grades, defined by the ECX, range from Grade 1 (premium) to Grade 5 (low quality). G2 is the standard commercial grade, still representing good cup quality and used widely in specialty markets, especially for washed lots with distinctive regional character.

What coffee processing method is used for this Dama Coop lot?

This coffee is processed using the washed method. It involves removing the coffee cherry skin, fermenting to strip off the mucilage, washing, and drying the beans on raised beds. This enhances clarity, acidity, and fruit-forward flavours typical of Yirgacheffe.

What does this Yirgacheffe coffee taste like?

This Dama Coop washed Yirgacheffe features lemon peel, dried longan, jasmine, kumquat, black tea, and a sweet, juicy finish. It has bright acidity, layered fruit notes, and a clean, tea-like aftertaste—classic traits of high-quality Ethiopian washed coffees.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Yirgacheffe Lovers

Start with FrontStreet Coffee’s washed Yirgacheffe, known for its bright white jasmine, citrus, and tea notes—an approachable introduction to the region. For deeper exploration, try their water-processed Gedeb cooperative offering, highlighting intense citrus and floral tones. Both showcase the high-altitude clarity and delicate sweetness Yirgacheffe is famous for. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.