What is "Heirloom" coffee? We unravel the concept behind Ethiopia's most exciting beans!

When you buy specialty coffee from Ethiopia, you've probably noticed the word Heirloom under the variety on the coffee bag. But what does it really mean? Is it an individual coffee bean, a specific plant, or just a fancy word for old coffee?

In short, Heirloom is a collective name for thousands of wild, original and genetically undefined coffee varieties that grow in the cradle of coffee – Ethiopia.

In this post, we delve into what Heirloom really means, why these beans provide such magical flavors in the cup, and how farmers in Ethiopia work with them.

👉 Do you want to learn more about different arbacia varieties?

https://hallakafferosteri.com/blogg/guide

What does the word Heirloom mean?

The word heirloom can be translated as "inheritance" or "family heirloom". In the coffee world, the term generally refers to old cultivated varieties of Coffea Arabica .

But when we talk about Ethiopian coffee, the word has a completely unique meaning. Here it is used as an umbrella term for the thousands of indigenous coffee bushes that have grown wild in the country for centuries.

It is estimated that there are between 10,000 and 15,000 different Heirloom varieties in Ethiopia today – and the vast majority have not yet been formally identified genetically!

The two main groups within Heirloom

Ethiopian Heirloom is usually divided into two categories:

1. JARC varieties: Coffee varieties that have been researched and developed by the Jimma Agricultural Research Centre to provide better disease resistance or higher yields.

2. Regional Landraces: Coffee trees that grow completely wild in forests or in so-called "semi-forest" systems, refined by nature itself.

The 10,000 Wild Coffee Varieties Challenge

Working with wild coffee is a delight for the taste buds, but a challenge for the coffee farmers. Because so many different varieties grow side by side in the forests, it is almost impossible to tell them apart genetically on a large scale. Instead, identification is based on the farmers' years of experience and local knowledge.

Organizations like Nardos Coffee Export are actively working to visit farmers, map the unique varieties, and name them based on the year of discovery and number series.

This work makes a big difference:

• Increased traceability: It will be easier for roasters and buyers to know exactly where the coffee comes from.

• Customized processing: When you understand the specific variety, you can fine-tune post-harvest processing (washed or berry-dried/natural) to elicit the very best flavors.

• Support for farmers: Knowledge sharing and access to the right seedlings give local people a more sustainable and stable supply chain.

Did you know? If you move a specific heirloom variety like Kurume from the Sidamo region to Guji, the coffee will taste completely different. The microclimate, soil and altitude of each region play a huge role in the end result!

What does Heirloom coffee taste like?

It is precisely the taste that makes Heirloom a favorite among specialty coffee lovers worldwide. In general, Ethiopian Heirloom is characterized by a very elegant, floral and fruity-sour flavor profile .

However, the character varies greatly depending on the region:

• Guji: Often produces an intensely fruity cup with notes of dark berries and jam.

• Sidamo: Known for its distinct floral aromas and nuances of apricot and citrus.

Because the beans are often a bit smaller and have such complex flavors, they also require great precision when roasting. Roasting Heirloom requires a touch of finesse to preserve the volatile floral and fruity notes without burning the bean.

Why do we love Heirloom at Hälla Kafferosteri?

For us at Hälla Kafferosteri, Ethiopian Heirloom represents the purest form of the coffee world. Every cup is like a little adventure – a chance to drink coffee that has evolved naturally in its homeland for hundreds of years.

When you brew a cup of Heirloom coffee at home (whether you hand brew with V60, Press or a refreshing Iced V60) you get a complex and unique flavor that is impossible to copy anywhere else in the world.

👉 Want to experience the flavors yourself? Check out our webshop to see which Ethiopian coffee varieties we have freshly roasted on the shelf right now!
https://hallakafferosteri.com

Have a nice day!
/ Kaj and Dan, Hälla Coffee Roastery