Ethiopia West Arsi Refisa BIO

Ethiopia West Arsi Refisa – arabica grown on organic family farms surrounded by wild forest, scoring 87.5 SCA points.

West Arsi, in south-central Ethiopia, is a region of exceptional coffee potential, located approximately 400 km south of the capital Addis Ababa, at the foot of Harenna National Park and the Bale massif. Although the history of coffee cultivation in this region spans generations, West Arsi gained international recognition relatively recently, when the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange designated it as a distinct, high-quality coffee-growing area. Today the region is renowned for outstanding specialty arabicas that rank among the top in prestigious competitions – including the Cup of Excellence 2020, where four coffees from West Arsi placed in the top ten.

The producer of this coffee is Testi Coffee, an Ethiopian family business founded in 2009 by Faysel Abdosh, supplying exclusively specialty coffee. Testi Trading PLC operates 20 processing stations across the Sidamo, Guji, Yirgacheffe, and West Arsi regions, working with hundreds of smallholder farmers – including 648 farmers delivering cherries to the Refisa processing station. The company is a member of the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX), the African Coffee Association (AFCA), the Ethiopian Coffee Exporters Association (ECEA), and the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce (ECC), with a strong commitment to transparency, sustainability, and the highest raw material quality.

West Arsi Refisa grows at an altitude of 1,800–2,100 m above sea level in a zone where cultivated plots blend with wild forest. The beans come from hand-selected coffee cherries, primarily of the Welisho and Kurume varieties (belonging to the Ethiopian Heirloom family), harvested in the areas of Refisa, Roricho, Bulga, and Riripa. After an initial sorting, the cherries are depulped using a depulper, and the beans are then thoroughly washed in water channels. Drying takes place on so-called “African beds” for approximately 10–14 days, in both shade and sun, in layers of 2 cm, with full traceability and quality control maintained at every stage.

In the cup, West Arsi Refisa captivates with a floral aroma of jasmine, juicy nectarine, and the sweetness of fruit drops, combined with a clean, refreshing character. The coffee is roasted at a medium level, which highlights its elegant, balanced flavour profile and clarity. We recommend it primarily for pour-over and alternative brewing methods such as drip or Chemex, where it fully reveals its floral-fruity complexity and freshness.