Ethiopia | Danche Yellow Honey
Tastes Like: Concord Grape 🍇 · Nectarine 🍑 · Elderflower 🌸

Country: Ethiopia
Region: Gedeb, Yirgacheffe
Varietal: Ethiopian Landrace (Kurume & Wolisho)
Process: Honey
Altitude: 2200 MASL
Harvest: January 2025

ABOUT THIS COFFEE

Danche is a celebrated washing station in Gedeb, Yirgacheffe, where nearly 800 smallholder farmers—each tending 2–3 hectare plots at 2,200 meters—deliver coffee cherries grown in one of Ethiopia’s most expressive terroirs. This is Ilse's first-ever honey-processed lot from Danche, and it’s an absolute standout: lively, sweet, and aromatic, with amplified fruit character while retaining the clarity that defines great coffees from Gedeb.

Managed by SNAP, one of Ethiopia’s most respected exporters, Danche is part of a network of seven washing stations known for producing some of the country’s most exceptional coffees. Last year, the washed Danche lot was our top Ethiopian coffee of the season, and this honey iteration carries that legacy forward in a new and exciting direction.

PROCESSING

Cherries are harvested at peak ripeness, floated to remove defects, and pulped before undergoing 48–72 hours of dry fermentation. With a thin layer of mucilage intentionally left on, the parchment is then dried on raised beds for 10–14 days, allowing the honey process to deepen sweetness and elevate fruit complexity.

The result is a beautifully expressive cup with Concord grape juiciness, ripe nectarine sweetness, and a distinct elderflower florality—bright, clean, and deeply satisfying.

What is the roast recency?

Ilse doesn't advertise a roast preference to Filter or Espresso, instead they are roasted for the best amongst both - often called Omniroast. That being said, Ilse typically roast light.

We recommend brewing with beans that are at least two weeks off roast. All beans are roasted to peak flavour at around 8-12 weeks. We have the option to either purchase standard beans (at least 2 weeks but no longer than 6 weeks off roast), or rested beans (at least 7 weeks off roast, no longer than 12). For peak flavour, if you are looking to use immediately, we recommend purchasing the rested beans. If you are adding to your rotation of beans, we recommend purchasing the standard and allowing the beans to naturally rest and mature whilst you rotate through other beans.