Unroasted - Ethiopian Guji GR4

About the bean

Once blended under the broad “Sidamo” label, Guji’s coffees now command global acclaim, their identity unshackled in 2002 from neighbour Yirgacheffe, which had already been folded in with the Sidamo name. A remote part of southern Ethiopia, Guji is distinguished by a range of microclimates and altitudes with dense forests in parts where coffee grows wild. Guji’s very own coffee origin story evolved from here, in the Beda Magada forest, where hunters are said to have discovered a sweet, red fruit growing on trees that provided energy and nourishment for the chase. Delighted, news of this remarkable fruit quickly spread to surrounding villages where people began experimenting with different ways to enjoy its discovery.

Today, wild coffee is still to be found in the forests of Guji in the province of Oromia. Named after the Oromo people, growers here have nurtured the area’s highland farms for generations. The process from start to finish remains a labour of love attended to manually. Cherries are picked for selective hand-harvest before being delivered to washing stations for defect removal and drying on raised beds under shade for 10-12 days, regularly turned and sorted. This level of care ensures a distinct flavour profile infused with a bright fruit-forward complexity.

Taffy. Bright Fruits. Blueberry. Dried Cranberry. Cocoa Nibs. Silky. Clean & Sweet. Lingering Aftertaste.

In The Cup: The medium roast shines as a nicely balanced espresso or Americano, with a gentle acidity and rich depth for an 8–10 oz brew—a fine example of Guji’s nuanced stamina even in concentrated preparations. For home roasters, the green beans are visibly even, fragrantly fresh, and with remarkably few imperfections for a GR4—a testament to their meticulous sorting. The lively roast profile transforms quickly with heat, rewarding the attentive roaster with efficiency and consistency.

QUICK NOTES

REGION: Guji, Oromia
PROCESS: Natural
ALTITUDE: 1,500 - 2,250  masl.
VARIETAL: Heirloom
GRADE: 4 Premium

ROAST RECOMMENDATION: Medium. For an explanation of our different roasts, see here: http://greenbeanery.ca/pages/roasting-chart.