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Learning African Coffee

A structured progression from first encounter to deep expertise in African coffee origins. Follow these paths in sequence or jump to the level that matches your current knowledge.

Beginner — Start Here

  1. African Coffee Overview — Quick introduction to the continent and why it matters
  2. Ethiopia vs Kenya — Floral vs blackcurrant; understanding the two dominant origin styles
  3. Cup both origins side by side — taste the brightness before reading further
  4. Around the World/African Coffee/Africa in General/African Coffee Quick Reference — Price points, what to look for, common mistakes

Intermediate — Build Knowledge

  1. Explore Ethiopian regions — ../Yirgacheffe Coffee, Guji Coffee, ../Sidamo Coffee, ../Harrar Coffee
  2. Kenya Coffee Grading Standards — AA vs AB, why AB is better value, how the auction works
  3. Broaden to Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania — Around the World/African Coffee/Africa in General/African Coffee Thematic Index
  4. Around the World/African Coffee/Africa in General/African Coffee Thematic Index — Processing methods (washed, natural, experimental) and their impact on cup

Advanced — Master the Continent

  1. All regional distinctions and individual washing station reputations
  2. Around the World/African Coffee/Africa in General/African Coffee Comparisons — Value opportunities, Burundi vs Rwanda, AB vs AA
  3. ../Sourcing African Coffee — Direct trade, verification, factory relationships, freshness management
  4. Around the World/African Coffee/Africa in General/African Coffee Thematic Index — Heirloom varieties, SL types, Bourbon characteristics in depth
  5. Around the World/African Coffee/Africa in General/African Coffee Market — Auction systems, ECX, direct trade economics

Cupping Exercises

  • Session 1: Ethiopian washed (Yirgacheffe Grade 1) vs Ethiopian natural (Harrar or Guji) — same origin, different processing
  • Session 2: Kenyan AA vs Kenyan AB from the same factory — testing whether the grade premium is audible
  • Session 3: Kenya vs Rwanda — SL variety vs Bourbon, brightness vs elegance
  • Session 4: Ethiopia vs Yemen natural — familiar vs ancient, equatorial vs high-desert

Tags: #learning #origins #africa #beginner #intermediate #advanced #cupping

Related MOCs: Around the World/African Coffee/Africa in General/African Coffee Origins | Around the World/African Coffee/Africa in General/African Coffee Thematic Index | ../Sensory Science MOC | Coffee Cupping