East Timor: Ermera

Washed Process ∙ Medium Roast

Flavor profile: Green tea and mild cocoa with cooked fruit and pecan notes. Tart acidity with a mellow fruit-like sweetness.

Grown at 1400–1900 Meters Above Sea Level (MASL)

Our Origin Select coffee this month comes from the Ermera region of East Timor, the country’s most important coffee-producing area. This regional lot is sourced from smallholder farmers in Letefoho, where coffee is grown at some of the highest elevations in the country. Farms are typically small, often just one to two hectares, and coffee is cultivated under shade trees using traditional methods passed down through generations.

This coffee is composed of a mix of varieties including Timor Hybrid, Typica, Catimor,and Sarchimor. The washed process—in which the fruit is removed before fermentation and drying—highlights clarity in the cup, allowing the coffee’s delicate tea-like qualities and structured acidity to shine.

Ermera’s mountainous terrain, fertile soils, and consistent rainfall create ideal conditions for growing high-quality Arabica coffee. The region has been central to coffee production since Portuguese colonial times, and today coffee remains a vital part of East Timor’s economy, supporting nearly one-third of the population. Following independence in 2002, the country’s coffee sector has steadily rebuilt, with a growing focus on quality and sustainability. East Timor is also historically significant as the birthplace of the Timor Hybrid, a naturally occurring cross between Arabica and Robusta that has influenced coffee breeding programs around the world.

Get your bag here.

Interested in trying more from this series? 

Join our Origin Select of the Month Club!