How to Roast Ethiopia Sidamo at Home: Gentle Filter Dialed-In Recipe

The journey

• Tasted good
• Had a fault
• Not tasted yet

What the roasts show

1. Roast 1: 9minFilter at level 2.0, 100 g. 1 with a fault (grassy, roasty).
2. Then level 2.0 → 1.7, profile 9minFilter → Raost Sidamo: roast 2. 1 with a fault (roasty).
3. Then level 1.7 → 2.5, profile Raost Sidamo → NordicLight: roast 3. 1 good.
4. Then level 2.5 → 3.0, load 100 g → 110 g: roast 4. 1 with a fault (grassy).
5. Then level 3.0 → 2.8, load 110 g → 120 g: roast 5. 1 good.
6. Then level 2.8 → 2.0, profile NordicLight → F-WSH 1500-2200: roast 6. 1 not tasted.
7. Then level 2.0 → 2.2: roast 7. 1 not tasted.
8. Then level 2.2 → 2.3: roast 8. 1 with a fault (grassy).
9. Then level 2.3 → 2.5, profile F-WSH 1500-2200 → Gentle Filter, load 120 g → 100 g: roast 9. 1 with a fault (sour, roasty).
10. Then level 2.5 → 2.0, profile Gentle Filter → Rich Filter: roast 10. 1 good.
11. Then load 100 g → 120 g: roast 11. 1 with a fault (grassy).
12. Then level 2.0 → 2.2, profile Rich Filter → Gentle Filter, load 120 g → 100 g: roast 12. 1 with a fault (roasty).
13. Then level 2.2 → 2.0: roast 13. 1 good.
14. Then level 2.0 → 2.1: roast 14. 1 good.
15. Then profile Gentle Filter → Bright Filter, load 100 g → 120 g: roast 15. 1 not tasted.
16. Then level 2.1 → 2.0: roast 16. 1 good.
17. Then load 120 g → 150 g: roast 17. 1 not tasted.

• Weight lost: good roasts 9.0%–14.0%, roasts with a fault 12.6%–14.6%.
• Time in the hot zone: good roasts 1:39–3:00, roasts with a fault 1:49–2:59.
• End temperature: good roasts 214 °C–223 °C, roasts with a fault 212 °C–224 °C.
• Good cups were tasted after 10–36 days of rest (6 tastings).

This shows what differed in the roast. It does not say why the cup tasted different.

Recipes tried

• Bright Filter

  Still dialling in · 3 roasts · Hot zone 2:40–2:47

  • 2.0 · 120 g · 1 roast, Tasted good
  • 2.0 · 150 g · 1 roast, Not tasted yet
  • 2.1 · 120 g · 1 roast, Not tasted yet

• Gentle Filter

  Moved on · 4 roasts · Hot zone 2:23–2:28

  • 2.0 · 100 g · 1 roast, Tasted good
  • 2.1 · 100 g · 1 roast, Tasted good
  • 2.2 · 100 g · 1 roast, Had a fault
  • 2.5 · 100 g · 1 roast, Had a fault

• Rich Filter

  Moved on · 2 roasts · Hot zone 2:59–3:00

  • 2.0 · 100 g · 1 roast, Tasted good
  • 2.0 · 120 g · 1 roast, Had a fault

• F-WSH 1500-2200

  Moved on · 3 roasts · Hot zone 1:48–1:58

  • 2.0 · 120 g · 1 roast, Not tasted yet
  • 2.2 · 120 g · 1 roast, Not tasted yet
  • 2.3 · 120 g · 1 roast, Had a fault

• NordicLight

  Moved on · 3 roasts · Hot zone 1:39–1:49

  • 2.5 · 100 g · 1 roast, Tasted good
  • 2.8 · 120 g · 1 roast, Tasted good
  • 3.0 · 110 g · 1 roast, Had a fault

• Raost Sidamo

  Moved on · 1 roast · Hot zone 2:36

  • 1.7 · 100 g · 1 roast, Had a fault

• 9minFilter

  Moved on · 1 roast

  • 2.0 · 100 g · 1 roast, Had a fault

The recipe that stuck

Profile

Gentle Filter

Level

2.2

Batch

100g

Roast loss

13.9%

Hot zone

2:23

End temperature

221°C

Winning batch

R-094 · 2026-07-14

nice and fruity, smooth, a little darker, could probably be roasted a tick lighter.

Compare two recipes

Nothing differed by more than normal roast-to-roast variation.

• Hot zone about the same (2:47 vs 2:40)
• End temperature about the same (223 °C vs 222 °C)

No weight after roasting for Bright Filter at level 2.0, 120 g, so weight lost is not compared.

This shows what differed in the roast. It does not say why the cup tasted different.

What the roasts taught

• NordicLight ~2.8 / 120g (R-037) first hit “nice and fruity” after rest — early 9min/Raost runs were green or dark-flat.
• Gentle Filter around 2.2–2.5 / 100g became the cleaner modern lane (R-069, R-094): fruity, no green, watch for a touch dark.
• F-WSH 1500-2200 at 2.3 was awful underdeveloped on this lot — same family that works for Gatugi is not automatic here.
• Current fine-tune: Gentle Filter at 2.0 (R-101) after “tick lighter” feedback on R-094.

Roast goal

Stop roast just after first crack completes to preserve the signature lemon acidity and black tea delicacy. Aim for a light brown color with no oil development. Focus on highlighting the madeira cake sweetness while maintaining the crispy, bright character that defines high-altitude washed Ethiopians.