Expedition: Ethiopia Discovering a coffee legacy in Sidama

At Expedition Society Adventure Coffee, we’re drawn to the untamed corners of the globe—places where coffee isn’t just a drink, but a story carved into the land itself. Today, we’re unveiling Expedition: Ethiopia, a single-origin treasure from the highland heart of Ethiopia’s Sidama Zone. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill brew; it’s a medium-light roast crafted for those who chase the wild, ready to fuel your next journey. Forget the polished café scene—this coffee belongs on the open trail, where legends are born. Grab your mug and explore Sidama’s legacy with us. Where do you belong? Out here, with us.

The Sidama Zone: A Cradle of Coffee

Nestled in southern Ethiopia, the Sidama Zone is a land where coffee feels like it was born—and in many ways, it was. Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee, and Sidama sits at the heart of that origin story, with its rolling highlands stretching between 1,700 and 1,900 meters above sea level. This isn’t a tame landscape—it’s a rugged expanse of misty slopes, where coffee plants thrive in the shade of native trees like acacia and enset, their roots digging into rich nitisols, a fertile, red clay soil known for its water-retention and nutrient density. The region’s elevation and climate—cool mornings, warm days, and steady rainfall—create a slow ripening process that unlocks layers of flavor in every cherry. Villages like Hawassa and Dilla pulse with the rhythm of harvest season, where the air hums with the scent of ripe coffee and the chatter of farmers sorting their yields by hand. It’s a place where tradition runs as deep as the roots of the coffee trees themselves.

The Growers: Keepers of Ethiopia’s Heritage

The soul of Expedition: Sidama lies with the smallholder farmers of the Sidama Zone, a community of growers who’ve tended these highlands for generations. These farmers, many from the Sidama ethnic group, have coffee in their blood—Ethiopia’s been cultivating it for over a thousand years, and they carry that legacy forward. They grow indigenous heirloom cultivars, a diverse mix of native varieties that trace back to coffee’s ancient origins, each plant a living piece of history. These cultivars, often unnamed and passed down through families, bring a unique complexity to the cup, reflecting the biodiversity of Ethiopia’s coffee lands.

These farmers are part of tight-knit cooperatives, often linked to the Sidama Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union, which ensures quality and fair trade. They intercrop coffee with food staples like enset (false banana) or maize, a sustainable practice that supports both their families and the land. It’s a labor of love—hand-sorting cherries at peak ripeness, hauling them to drying stations, and sharing stories over a communal brew. Their work is a testament to Ethiopia’s enduring coffee culture, where every bean tells a story of resilience and tradition.

The Process: Crafted with Ancient Care

The journey of Expedition: Sidama is a meticulous one, rooted in Ethiopia’s time-honored methods. It starts with hand-picking the ripest cherries, a task that demands precision to capture the best flavors. Unlike the washed process common in Sidama, this coffee undergoes a full natural process—cherries are sorted by hand to remove defects, then left to dry with the fruit intact. This method, also known as dry processing, allows the beans to absorb the fruit’s natural sugars, enhancing their sweetness and body. The cherries are spread on raised beds to dry under the Ethiopian sun, a step that can take 2-4 weeks. Farmers turn the cherries by hand to ensure even drying, protecting them from mold and preserving their delicate flavors.

Grown on nitisols, the coffee absorbs a subtle minerality, adding depth to the final cup. The result is an experience that captures the essence of Sidama’s highlands, ready to be ground and brewed for your next adventure. It’s a process that honors the land’s ancient rhythms, delivering a taste as real as the slopes it comes from.

The Flavor: A Highland Symphony

Expedition: Ethiopia offers a tasting profile that’s as vibrant as Ethiopia’s highlands. This medium-light roast unfolds with a comforting blend of milk chocolate, fruity notes, and caramel, each sip a journey through Sidama’s misty slopes. The milk chocolate provides a velvety base, while the fruity notes—hints of ripe berries—add a lively brightness, and the caramel brings a smooth, sweet finish. It’s a cup that feels like a warm embrace from the highlands, crafted for explorers who crave something real, something that tastes of the land from which it was born.

Brewing Your Sidama Adventure

Ready to savor the highlands? Here’s how to bring out the best in Expedition: Sidama:

•  Method: A pour-over or Aeropress highlights the fruity and caramel notes, perfect for a crisp, clean cup.

•  Grind: Our whole beans are ideal for a fresh grind. Use a medium-fine grind for pour-over (like table salt) or medium for Aeropress to balance extraction.

•  Water Temp: Aim for 195-205°F (just off the boil) to preserve the delicate fruity notes without overpowering them.

•  Brew Time: Steep for 2.5-3 minutes in a pour-over to coax out the brightness, or 1.5 minutes in an Aeropress with a gentle press.

•  Pairing: Pair with a caramel-drizzled pastry to echo the sweetness, or fresh berries to amplify the fruity undertone. For a camp treat, add a pinch of cinnamon—a nod to Ethiopia’s spiced coffee tradition.

As you sip, picture the coffee plants swaying in the Sidama breeze, the cherries drying on raised beds under the sun, and the farmers sorting them with care. That’s the Expedition Society way—coffee that’s as authentic as its origins.

Join the Expedition

Expedition: Sidama is a tribute to the rugged beauty and ancient legacy of Ethiopia’s highlands, from the nitisols of the Sidama Zone to the hands that grow it. At Expedition Society, we’re proud to bring you coffee that fuels your journey, whether you’re exploring the slopes of Ethiopia or charting your own path closer to home. This isn’t just a cup—it’s an invitation to experience the wild, a reminder of where you belong.

Where do you belong? Out here, with us. Shop Expedition: Ethiopia now and share your journey with #WhereYouBelong!