Ethiopia Coffee Harvest 2026: What We Saw, Learned, and What Comes Next

Ethiopia is one of the first countries in the calendar year to start their harvest. To be there on time, we left Canada on January 5 to get the first glimpse of coffee harvest very early into 2026. As always, we wanted to check how the producers were doing, their predictions for the harvest season but also, we wanted to work together on challenges they might face this year.

Harvest in Ethiopia was delayed due to rain and temperatures that prolonged ripening of coffee cherries. Ethiopia is heavily focused on coffee export and high prices are impacting purchasing and planning of coffee production in Ethiopia. What does it mean in practice? If exporters project lower export due to higher prices and buyers looking into different regions, the actual supply on the market is lower adding to the price pressures. Price for raw cherries (not coffee beans, but cherries from farmers which need to be processed) has tripled since last year.

We visited small processing stations as well as bigger exporters to gain as much information as possible. Coffee community shared with us their stories, food and amazing coffees straight from the drying beds. Ethiopia is a country where help from buyers means a lot. Our focus on direct trade and long-term partnerships means better projections for coffee exporters and producers, helping small farmers.

We visited schools built with coffee money, witnessed initiatives which help women in coffee save money for the off-season, and spoke about trends consumers in Canada expect in coffee. It was a wholesome experience and we could see how specialty coffee makes the difference and impact on local communities.

What’s next for Chronicle Coffee? We are finalizing plans for Ethiopian microlots for this season. We are looking for coffee with great tasting profile, but also coffees that create something bigger. Those coffees are expected to be released from April and we can’t wait to share them with you.

FAQs

Q1: When is the coffee harvest season in Ethiopia?

Ethiopia is one of the first coffee-producing countries to begin harvest each year, typically starting early in the calendar year depending on weather and regional conditions.

Q2: Why was the Ethiopia coffee harvest delayed in 2026?

In 2026, rain and cooler temperatures slowed the ripening of coffee cherries, pushing the harvest later than usual and affecting supply timelines.

Q3: Why are Ethiopian coffee prices increasing?

Raw coffee cherry prices in Ethiopia have risen sharply due to delayed harvests, lower export projections, and strong global demand for specialty coffee.

Q4: What is direct trade coffee in Ethiopia?

Direct trade coffee involves long-term relationships between buyers and producers, offering better price stability, transparency, and planning support for Ethiopian farmers.

Q5: What are Ethiopian microlots?

Ethiopian microlots are small, carefully processed coffee lots selected for exceptional flavor quality and traceability, often produced by individual farms or washing stations.