As we journey through some of the best coffee-producing countries in the world, Africa has much to offer. One country that stands out far beyond the rest when it comes to some of the best and best coffee produced in the world is Ethiopia.

Ethiopia is the fifth-largest coffee producer in the world and the leading producer in Africa. Credit Image From WallPaperflare.

Ethiopia is considered the birthplace of coffee, and it is known to produce some of the finest and most expensive gourmet coffees in the world. We believe that this claim will be validated by any coffee connoisseur including myself, by simply trying their favorite roast and flavor of coffee from Ethiopia. Ethiopia offers some of the best Coffee, Culinary, and Historic tour experiences, which we will get into further along.

Coffee Tours in Ethiopia

Ethiopia is well known for its Coffee tours, you can enjoy some of their exquisite landscapes, and their rich culture, alongside some of the best coffees in the world. We have researched and listed a few links with some of the best Coffee Tour Sites that will take you through Ethiopia’s finest and best coffee experiences. But before we get into the best coffee tours in Ethiopia, let’s first look at some of the factors to consider, before deciding on which tour is the best for you.

The traditional table of the Ethiopian coffee ceremony. Credit Image from Unsplash.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Coffee Tour 

Seasons

Before planning your trip to Ethiopia you need to take the seasons and weather into consideration for two reasons;

1. You will need to know what to pack in terms of clothing for the weather conditions. Unlike most countries Ethiopia only has three distinct seasons;

• Bega from October to January, which is usually hot days and cooler nights, and a dry season.
• Belg is the rainfall season; similarly, when there are the highest temperatures, Belg is usually from February to May.
• Kiremt is their primary rainy season when around 85% to 95% of food and coffee crops are produced. Kirempt is from June to September with high temperatures.

2. There are different seasons for growing and harvesting coffee

• October up to December is their harvesting process where you can participate and see how the procedure is performed.
• January to April is usually their marketing time where the coffee beans will be gathered and sent to centralized spots or Unions such as the Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union (OCFCU), which is only one of the major Unions used for trade and marketing.
• May to July consist of the arrangements of seedlings, and the pruning and stumping of coffee trees, which may not be the most exciting time to visit for a coffee tour.

Types of Coffee Tours

Culinary Tours – The Ethiopian Culinary tours are packages that include trips to local markets, to coffee cafes and roasteries, and sometimes to the home of a local where they will perform a Coffee Ceremony.

Coffee Tours – Coffee tours are based on touring coffee farms and plantations in the main towns that produce some of the more well-known coffee brands only, they include accommodation and dining in most packages.

Food Tasting Tours – These tours include visiting different areas, and restaurants where you will taste traditional popular Ethiopian foods and coffee especially.

Tour Durations and Cost

The Tour Durations will mostly depend on the type of tour. You can enjoy anything from a day trip, up to three, seven, eight, or even 10-day tours. If you are touring through different locations and towns the tours will last a couple of days, and you will usually spend at least an entire day in each town, or location. The cost will mostly rely on the length and type of tour. Most of the time the cost includes all travel, accommodation, and two meals.

The Best Coffees and Brands to Try Out

• Yirgacheffe – A medium roast coffee that has more complex notes of fruit and wine, with a hint of cinnamon, and bright acidity. The best brand for Yirgacheffe is “Volcanic”, or Ethiopian Yirgacheffe from “Stone Street” in Harrar. Similarly, “Kaladi Coffee Roasters” offers a rare and intricate gourmet Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Oromia
• Organic Sidamo – A Light Roast that has more earthy notes, with blueberry and wine tones, and a slight almond aftertaste. It has berry-tone acidity and a very distinct blueberry taste. The Coffee is roasted by a top brand “Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC”.
• Oromia Gomma Microlot – We have chosen a roast from “Paramount Original Coffee” for this blend. The beans are sourced from Gomma located in the Oromia Region in Ethiopia. It is a light roast that has an “intense collection of flavors”, with a smooth body and sweet acidity. There are notes of Florals, lemon, and fruits that are complemented by the honey sweetness.
• Yirgacheffe Birhanu – Another Yirgacheffe Roast that is medium with a right citrus-toned acidity, and more complex notes. Notes of lime, floral and dark chocolate can be detected. The product is of single origin from the Birhanu Family farm, and can be purchased from “Cubico Coffee”.
• Bekama Solintè Organic – A medium roast that has sweeter notes of blueberry, chocolate, and banana. The Coffee is a single-origin organic coffee from the Amaro District, in Bekama Solintè. It is well-balanced with fruity acidity, and though not one of the most well-known Ethiopian coffees, it is worth a try! It is also retailed by Paramount Original Coffee.

Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony

You may want to take your tour to enjoy an Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony, which is quite an event. As coffee is born and bred in Ethiopia, it is part of their livelihood, their culture, and a symbol of respect and friendship for them. Thus, there is no question that they would have a ceremony to celebrate their tradition.

Coffee Ceremony Preparations in Ethiopia. Credit Image from Pixbay

What is the Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony?

• The Coffee ceremony is a core cultural custom in Ethiopia and Eritrea, and a routine with the main purpose of serving coffee daily, to get together with relatives, friends, neighbors, and even visitors.
• They spread Loos grass on the floor and decorate it with small yellow flowers, or Composite flowers for everyone to sit on.
• The Ceremony is hosted by the lady of the household and is an honor to perform.
• Coffee brewing starts by roasting the beans over an open flame, followed by grinding the beans, which are then placed in a special vessel with boiling water that is left for a few minutes on the open flame.
• The coffee is then Sieved and served by the hostess that pours the coffee in for all participating, in their small handleless cups.
• The Coffee grounds are brewed three times.
• The Coffee may be served with sugar, salt, or butter.
• Sometimes snacks including popcorn, peanuts, or traditional Himbasha may be served.

The Best Coffee Locations to Visit

Now that we have looked at some of the top selections of coffees in Ethiopia, chosen by coffee experts and connoisseurs all over the world, let’s visit some of the best coffee farms and regions;

Women make up 75% of production work in the Ethiopian coffee sector. Credit Image from Freepik

• Yirgacheffe  – The area known as Yirgacheffe which is a subdivision of Sidama in Southern Ethiopia produces some of the best quality and most popular coffees in the world.  Yirgacheffe coffee holds its own Ethiopian state trademark, and the many small coffee farms are marketed and distributed under the “Yirgacheffe Coffee Farmers’ Cooperative Union Ltd”. A small yet prominent coffee zone in Yirgacheffe that should not be missed is Awasa, also falling under the Sidama Zone.
• Sidama – Sidama similarly consists of many small farms and plantations that are operated under the https://sidamacoffee.com/, similar to Yirgacheffe. You may have noticed the region or their coffee being referred to as Sidamo, however, the correct term is Sidama. It is situated in Southern Ethiopia and covers many small areas.
• Limu – Limu is an Ethiopian Trademarked Coffee region with one of the largest coffee estates in Ethiopia, called the “Limmu Kossa Coffee Estate”, which you can follow on Facebook. Limmu Kossa is in the Jimma zone, in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. Limmu coffee is a Gourmet coffee and is known as one of the best in Ethiopia for individuals that enjoy an esteemed cup of brew. It is a balanced coffee, with spicy, and fruity notes, low acidity, and a sweet aftertaste. 
• Harare – The Capital of Harari in Ethiopia in the Eastern Hills is well known for its Wild Arabica coffee, which is dried, and the shells are removed by hand, to be used in tea. The coffee has a winey, spicy flavor that is rich and complex, with a heavy-bodied roast. Harar Coffee likewise holds an Ethiopian trademark and is one of the oldest coffee beans in Ethiopia. You can find the Harrar coffee bean in the “Gera Coffee farm”, Located in Djimma in the Oromia area in Ethiopia. 
• Jimma – Known as (Djimmah) is in the South West Oromia region in Ethiopia. Because of poor production conditions and deforestation, the area developed a bad reputation for having the worst coffee beans. However, it was bought from the government and renovated, now producing some of the best wet-processed coffee beans that have a silky body and citrus acidity. Jimma coffee as it is known can be found in the Limu Kossa Coffee Estate, as well as the Illubabor and Kaffa regions in Ethiopia.
• Bonga – Bonga is a name that will rarely come up in conversations about coffee in Ethiopia, however, did you know that it is the birthplace of Arabica Coffee? Bonga is a small town in the Southwest region of Ethiopia, the Tega and Tula Village where you can find the “Tega Tula Coffee Farm”,  are well known for their Arabica coffee variants. Their Coffee is known to have dried fruity notes of Apricot and strawberry, with fruity aromas, and a long finish. “UTB” is one of their top distributors. 
• Oromia – Oromia is a large regional state in Ethiopia that holds many popular Coffee producing towns and over 20 different districts. Oromia Coffee similarly falls under the “Oromia Coffee Farmers’ Cooperative Union”. Oromia regions are known for the Light bodied, and sweeter coffees that have floral notes of jasmine blossoms.

Three Best Coffee Tours in Ethiopia

We have done some thorough research to find sites and agencies that have the most affordable, and best quality Ethiopian coffee tours, that are all-inclusive so that you can just go and enjoy yourself without any worries or hidden costs and surprises;

1. Coffee Tours Ethiopia

The site Coffee Tours Ethiopia specializes specifically in Coffee and other Traditional and Historic tours offered by Ethiopia. You can book your tour directly from their website. Their Coffee Tour package takes you from Addis Ababa the capital city and through coffee plantations in different locations.

Duration – Their Coffee Tours take around 5 days but you can customize your stay.

Itinerary – 

• Day 1 Arrival in Addis Ababa.
• Day 2 Trip to Yirgacheffe sleepover in Ethiopian Skylight hotel.
• Day 3 Trip to Aleta Wenda Sleep Over in Guesthouse.
•  Day 4 Trip to Awassa in Sidama Zone.
•  Day 5 Return to Addis Ababa and Bole International Airport.

Reviews – According to reviews the trip was informative and enjoyable. The Guesthouses and hotels were top quality, and the English guide was very helpful.

2. Senait Ethiopia

Senait is similarly a site where you can book different tours to Ethiopia directly from the site. Your Tour will start and conclude in Addis Ababa, and you will visit the birthplace of coffee in Kaffa Ethiopia

This Ethiopian adventure begins and concludes in Addis Ababa, your adventure will conclude with a traditional dinner, music, and dancing in Addis Ababa before your return. You may also be able to enjoy a Coffee ceremony during your travels, as this is a custom all over Ethiopia. Senait Ethiopia is one of the most helpful and top favorite Ethiopian Coffee Tour sites that we have found so far, and they are very willing to help and share any information with you can follow the links under duration to get a full Itinerary.

Duration – You can Choose between a Five Day or a Ten Day trip Coffee Tour

Itinerary – You can follow the links provided for the duration of the tours above for the full itinerary, however here is a summary. For the Five day tour, you will travel;

• Day 1 Arrival in Addis Ababa.
• Day to Travel to Awassa in Sidama.
• Day 3 Travel to Yirga Cheffe in Yirga Alem.
• Day 4. You will explore the surrounding coffee farms in Yirga Lem.
• On day five you will return to Addis Ababa.

The ten-day tour includes a few different towns and regions;

• Day 1 will be your arrival in Addis Ababa where you will tour the city..
• Day 2 You will visit Woliso in the Kaffa Region.
• Day 3 will be a visit to Bonga in Jimma, a large city.
• Day 4 will be a trip around Bonga and surrounding farms.
• Day 5 will be a trip to Mizan Teferi with a trip to a tea plantation.
• Day 7 there will be a coffee tour around Bonga on the way back to Jimma.
• Day 8 from Jimma you will travel to Awassa.
• On day 9 you will visit one of the largest coffee plantations in YirgaCheffe where the most popular Yirgachefe coffee in the world is produced.
• Day 10 will be your travel back from Yirga Chaffee in Yirga Alem, to Addis Ababa where your day will end with a visit to some markets and a farewell dinner.

Review – Most individuals who went in groups enjoyed this tour more. It is slightly expensive, but your packages are customizable.

3. Simmien Mountains Tours

The Simmien Mountain 8-Day Ethiopian Coffee tour can be booked through TripAdvisor online. The tour is generally designed to take you to explore all the main coffee sites in Ethiopia and you will likewise be able to see some of the Western Historic areas in Ethiopia.

Duration – The Trip is an 8-day trip from the day you land in Addis Ababa the capital of Ethiopia, until the night of your final visit in Addis Ababa.

Itinerary –  

• Day 1 The Hotel will pick you up from Bole Addis Ababa airport the capital city of Ethiopia. You will visit the National Museum of Ethiopia, Mount Entoto, the Holy Trinity Cathedral, and the Addis Mercato market, with lunch, dinner, and accommodation included.
• Day 2 Will be a trip to the Jimma area where you will visit Aba Jifar Palace, lunch, dinner, and accommodation are included.
• Day 3 will be a trip to Bonga coffee plantations where you will receive lunch, dinner, and accommodation.
• Day 4 is a Trekking trip through Mankira in Bonga, similarly lunch, dinner and accommodation will be provided in Bonga.
• On day 5 you will travel to Bebeka close to Mizan Tefari and visit the largest coffee plantation in Ethiopia that covers 6 000 hectares of land.
• Day 6 still in Bebeka there will be more exploring in the process of coffee plantations from seedlings up to the beans, and a coffee tasting.
• Day 7 will be a trip to Jimma where you can explore. Meals and accommodation will be included.
• Day 8 is your flight back from Jimma to Addis Ababa, where you will visit a coffee processing warehouse, have lunch, and later enjoy a farewell dinner, music, and traditional dance.

Reviews – The Tour guide is said to have provided everyone with an amazing and very informative experience. Solo female tourists felt safe and well cared for. The food was delicious and the accommodation was top-class.

	Coffee Tours Ethiopia	Senait Ethiopia	Simmien Mountains Ethiopia
Tour Relevance	Historic and Coffee Tours.	More relevant to Coffee and plantation Tours.	More Historic, few plantation tours, however, visited processing warehouses.
Culinary Experience	Lunch and Dinner are provided daily, with a dinner, as a farewell.	Lunch and Dinner are provided. Tasting Experience. Coffee Ceremony Farewell Dinner, Music, and Dance.	Lunch and Dinner are provided. A farewell dinner and dance on the last night.
Transports	Transport is provided with a Tour Guide.	Your own rental vehicles are provided with a guide.	Transport was provided and a Flight back from Jimma was.
Accommodation	Luxury Hotels and Guesthouses.	Mostly Luxury Hotels and catering accommodations.	Hotels and Catering accommodation.
Tour Guide	Not much was mentioned about the tour guide, but he could translate it into English.	Brilliant tour guide and translator of a few languages.	Tourguide came highly recommended by many reviews.

For more of a “Coffee”  experience and culinary experience, I would highly recommend Senait Coffee Tours for both groups, couples, and individuals. Coffee Tours Ethiopia and Simien Mountain Tours explore many of the plantations and historical monuments in Ethiopia, thus they have more variety in their experience.

Planning for your Coffee Tour Through Ethiopia

Ethiopia is generally an area with very high temperatures, with dry, and rainfall seasons. You will be visiting plenty of rural areas, plantations, and farms, however, you may also spend some time in the cities and markets, as well as dining in hotels. So here are a few tips to help you plan your trip;

1. Pack appropriate clothing according to the Seasons, Ethiopia can get quite hot, ensure that you pack sunscreen and cool clothing. Pack something warm for cooler evenings. Also, ensure that you have comfortable shoes as you will be doing plenty of walking.
2. Choose a Tour according to your needs. Whether you want more of a culinary experience, or also to do some exploring of historic sites.
3. Check the transportation methods offered by the agency, it will be a better choice to rent a vehicle.
4. Ensure that you have a tour guide that is fluent in your language and that is a good translator.
5. Pack phones and chargers for plenty of pictures and to use GPS.
6. You will need some spending money as most packages do not include breakfast, lunch, and other snacks in between.

Ethiopia compared to other origins is reviewed as having some of the world’s best single-origin coffee beans still today. All in all, if you are an avid coffee enthusiast, Ethiopia is a country not to be missed, and its Coffee Tours and Coffee Ceremonies are truly an experience that will not disappoint.