Where Limmu Coffee Comes From

Limmu coffee originates from the southwestern parts of Ethiopia, in the Oromia Region. These coffees are grown at altitudes of up to 2,000 meters above sea level.

They show a cup profile with a medium body and flavor notes of wine and fruit, with sharp, citric-like acidity and a clean finish.

Limmu Cup Profile

• Acidity: Low but sharp
• Body: Well balanced
• Bean color: Greenish
• Aroma: Mixed berries, spice, cocoa
• Flavor: Chocolate, spicy, pleasantly sweet with floral overtones
• Bean: Medium in size with a distinctive rounded shape

The Rise of Washed Limmu Coffee

Washed Limmu coffees are a moderately recent phenomenon in the Ethiopian coffee market. Down the generations, coffees in these areas were produced as sun-dried coffees. To protect final quality and consistency, washing these coffees was introduced and has been popularized successfully in relatively recent years.

Before the Washing Stations

Before cooperatively owned washing stations began on a large scale, farmers would dry their coffee on the ground and store it in their houses until they needed money. At that moment, the producer would bring the dried cherry to a buying station and receive the little money they needed.

The issue was that these coffees earned the farmer lower prices, due to the lower quality of what was known as Jimma coffees.

After the Washing Stations

As cooperatives opened washing stations, the coffees started earning a higher income for farmers right away. Quality improved, and better prices for the farmers followed.

“The rise of Washed Limmu coffees presented a new region of premium coffees for the specialty roaster to explore.”

It also introduced a newly afforded livelihood for producers in Western Ethiopia.