Ethiopia Sidamo GR3 Natural Ayla Bombe Grainpro

Sidamo, located in southern Ethiopia’s historic coffee-growing zone, is widely regarded as a cradle of Arabica cultivation. Elevations ranging from approximately 1,950 to 2,150 MASL, combined with fertile soils, steady rainfall, and cool temperatures, create ideal conditions for producing coffees with floral aromatics, bright fruit character, and layered sweetness.

The Bombe sub-region, where Ayla is located, benefits from a unique microclimate and rich biodiversity. These conditions allow cherries to ripen slowly and evenly, contributing to more expressive and complex cup profiles.

Operated by Testi Coffee under the leadership of Faysel Abdosh Yonis, the Ayla Washing Station is situated just south of the village of Shantawene and works with approximately 725–800 smallholder farmers in the Bombe hills. Its riverside location promotes consistent airflow over drying beds, supporting even fermentation and drying.

The station maintains strong traceability by separating kebele-specific lots and offers quality incentives through its Premium Cherry Selection program. Beyond processing, Ayla invests in community development through initiatives like school construction and rural electrification via Testi’s Project Direct.

This coffee is naturally processed, with ripe cherries dried whole on raised beds over 10–25 days. Once dried, the beans are hulled and optically sorted to ensure quality. As a Grade 3 Natural, it presents a vibrant profile with notes of black tea, florals, green apple, and light berry, supported by a clean structure and creamy body.