The Ethiopian Coffee Harvest Calendar: Month by Month

Ethiopia's bimodal rainfall and what it means for harvest

Ethiopia sits between two rainfall systems — the belg (short rains, February–May) and the kiremt (long rains, June–September). Coffee harvest follows the dry season that comes after the kiremt: the main crop runs from October through January, with significant variation by altitude and region.

There is a secondary, smaller harvest in some regions in spring — but for specialty buying purposes, the main harvest is what matters.

Region by region timeline

Yirgacheffe (Gedeo Zone)

Harvest: October – December
Altitude: 1,700–2,200m. Yirgacheffe tends to be one of the earliest washed coffees to arrive at port, often shipping in January–February. Natural lots take longer to dry and are typically ready for export from March onward.

Sidama

Harvest: October – December
Altitude: 1,550–2,200m. Similar window to Yirgacheffe, with highland Sidama lots (Bensa, Shantawene) coming later than lowland lots. New crop typically arrives in roasters' warehouses February–April.

Guji

Harvest: October – January
Altitude: 1,800–2,300m. Guji's higher altitude means a slightly later harvest. The finest micro-lots, from Hambela and Uraga, are often not ready until December–January. Expect these to arrive at port March–May.

Harrar

Harvest: November – February
Altitude: 1,400–2,100m. Harrar is almost entirely natural process. The lower altitude and drier climate accelerate cherry ripening, but the drying phase is long. New crop can be available from as early as January, though February–March is more typical for quality lots.

Limu

Harvest: October – December
Altitude: 1,400–2,000m. One of the earliest harvests in Ethiopia, with milling often beginning in September for early-ripening plots. Limu washed lots are among the first new-crop Ethiopians available each year, often landing in Europe and Asia in January.

Jimma / Kaffa / West Ethiopian regions

Harvest: September – December
Altitude: 1,400–1,900m. Lower altitude and earlier rains mean harvest starts earlier. These regions supply much of Ethiopia's commodity and G3–G4 volumes, but specialty-focused farm lots are available. New crop arrives at port from December onward.

The sourcing calendar: what to do when

• August–September — Contact exporters. Request current-crop inventory, upcoming lots, and indicative pricing.
• October–November — Request pre-harvest samples from forward-selling exporters if available; confirm contracts for early-arriving regions.
• December–January — First new-crop samples arrive. Cup aggressively. Lock in contracts for Yirgacheffe, Sidama, and Limu.
• February–March — Guji and Harrar new-crop samples. Final contracting window for most lots.
• April–June — Containers arriving. Any lots not contracted are now old stock competing for buyers.
• July–September — Old-crop season. Price typically falls. Good time for value lots but quality variance increases.

Why this matters for price

Ethiopian coffee prices are highly seasonal. New-crop lots arriving December–March command the strongest premiums. By June, unsold inventory becomes available at discounted FOB prices — sometimes 15–25% below the peak. If you're price-sensitive and flexible on crop year, the April–June window can offer real value.