Tier 2: Ethioipia Shibru Dube

WHAT IS A TIER 3 COFFEE?

Tier 2 coffees are our mid-tier price point coffees. The increased price reflects our higher purchase price of the green coffee, which correlates to higher demand, lower supply, and increased sensory attributes. For those interested in SCA cupping scores, these coffees will consistently be in the mid-to-higher-80’s, which are classified as “excellent.” The cupping score for this coffee was 86.  For perspective, less than 10% of all coffee harvested worldwide is specialty-grade coffee with a minimum SCA cupping score (sensory analysis) of 80/100.  Only 39% of specialty-grade coffees are estimated to be Tier 2 coffees.

LIMITED QUANTITY 

We only have 30 pounds of this coffee.

FLAVOR PROFILE (What we taste)

As a light roast, this coffee is very sweet, has a heavy body, and very mild bergamot orange note, which is the citrus note commonly associated with Earl Gray tea.  This is just a very pleasant and easy to drink coffee.  Using a scale of 0-10, we place the sweetness at a 7-9, the acidity at a 4-5, the body at a 7-8, and the bitterness at a 0.

RECOMMENDED BREWING METHODS

As a light roast, we have only brewed it as a filter and immersion but will in time experiment with it as espresso.  As a lighter roasted coffee, we recommend starting with a water temperature between 201-208F depending on brew method as lighter roasts are more prone to under extraction.  If the coffee tastes sour, 1) grind finer, 2) gradually increase the water temperature, and/or decrease the amount of ground coffee or water used to increase the extraction.  If the coffee tastes bitter and over extracted, 1) coarsen up the grind size, 2) gradually decrease the water temperature, and/or 3) increase the amount of ground coffee or decrease the amount of water used.  For filter/drip and immersion, we recommend starting with a brewing ratio of 1:15 (e.g., 20 grams of coffee to 300 grams of water), but this again is an area you will adjust for taste preferences.  Common ratios are 1:15 to 1:17.  If you decide to brew it as espresso, we would recommend using a higher water temperature (e.g., 203-205F) if your machine allows and starting with a 1:3 ratio (e.g., 18 grams of coffee to 54 grams of coffee in the cup), but experimenting with longer and shorter ratios until you find the balance of flavors you prefer.  

ABOUT THIS COFFEE 

Producer: Shibru Dube

Country: Mexico

Continent: Africa

Region: Chechele

Varietals: Dega, Kurume

Process: Natural

Altitude/elevation: 2100 MASL

Green Coffee Certifications: None

Harvest Period: November-December 2025

TRANSPARENCY

Want to learn more about this coffee and the producers who make it possible?  Want to learn more about the prices we paid for this coffee?  We paid $9.75 per pound for the green coffee from Crop to Cup.  Our goal is to create more transparency about our purchasing decisions so that you can make as informed a buying decision as possible.