*The Table is, as a collective whole, a massive fan of coffee from the Kochere region; we have seen several coffees served upon this Table over the past few years.
Kochere is growing in popularity, showcasing the consistent diversity of Yirgacheffe’s unique terroir; by now, Kochere is well-known for consistently producing some of the most amazingly clean, floral, bright coffees available in the Yirgacheffe region.
This is one of the first coffees Stovetop bought when they were getting started. Kochere is a district, or woreda, within the Gedeo Zone of Ethiopia. This particular lot is grown and picked in the village of Kore – about 25 kilometers from the center of Yirgacheffe Town – where it is washed and processed. The coffee is picked between November and January, depulped within 12 hours, and washed using spring water. The soils in this region are red-brown clay soil, about 1.5 meters deep.**
Welcome to my Table, here in the corner of this cafe. Today we’re sipping the Ethiopia Kochere, from Stovetop Coffee Roasters in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Feel free to pull up a chair.
THEDETAILS
region: Kore, Kochere, Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia
farm: N/A
producer: smallholder farmers
association: N/A
elevation: 1900 – 2500 meters above sea level
cultivars: Ethiopia Heirloom
process: fully washed, raised bed dried
CUPPINGNOTES
The aroma of this Ethiopia Kochere is wonderful. And, unsurprisingly, it’s distinct from all of the other Kocheres I’ve had here at the Table. This is a fine and nuanced aroma; delicate, complex, and dynamic, wafting out of the cup with fragrances of honeysuckle, ginger, stone fruit, and some light white tea leaf aromatics playing through the finish.
Taking my first few sips of the cup immediately post-brew, my palate is greeted by a coffee that is every bit of elegant and nuanced as its aroma suggested it would be. It’s light-bodied, with a clean, silky mouthfeel. Light honey and ginger mingle up front, followed closely by sweet cantaloupe, tart blackberry, and soft nuances of Meyer lemon.
FINALTHOUGHTS
Back in Holland, Michigan for the weekend, I headed over to one of my favorite haunts when in town – Lemonjello’s. I was surprised to see that their shelves were now decorated not only by Halfwit and Madcap, but by Stovetop Coffee – a roaster with whom I’ve recently become acquainted – as well.
I remain impressed with the Ethiopia Kochere – in my six (six!) years of operating the Table, Kochere has been a mainstay in my favorite regions. I also remain impressed with Stovetop Coffee Roasters, who absolutely nailed this delicate, complex, and nuanced coffee. Their take on the Kochere featured some familiar attributes that follow the thread of all the Kocheres I’ve ever had (honey, stone fruit, florals…) while also being highlighted by some nuances distinct unto itself – namely, ginger and blackberry.
I’m eager for the next opportunity to visit family in Holland, if only to be presented with my next opportunity to try another cup from Stovetop Coffee Roasters.
*image courtesy of Stovetop Coffee Roasters
**content courtesy of Cafe Imports
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Andrew is a husband, father, dog lover, craft beverage enthusiast, content creator, and niche market Internet celebrity. Formerly of A Table in the Corner of the Cafe and The Pulitzer Project and contributor to Barista Magazine and Mental Floss, he’s been writing on the Internet for years.