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Experts Rank Ethiopia's Coffee Among Best

Ethiopia’s coffee has been ranked as the best in the world by an international group of coffee connoisseurs. Not surprisingly, coffee is a top export for the country. But at home it is a source of pride.

International coffee experts travel the world to find the best tasting cup. They keep coming back to Ethiopia, where importers like Morton Wennersgaard say the climate produces quality coffee beans.

“You have different ancient varieties referred to as Ethiopian heirdom. They are grown in places with perfect soil, perfect altitude, and micro climates that are really suitable for coffee processing, such as drying and things like that,” he explains.

Finding the best beans is a matter of taste, literally. The intense process is known as cupping - tasting and comparing coffee from different roasted beans, grading and then pricing them.

Coffee labs

But before international experts come to taste, coffee beans go through analysis in small coffee labs, where Helen Assefa describes the process.

“When the coffee comes to the lab, we assess the coffee quality first by recording the details. Then we weigh the moisture level and we screen the beans for analysis. After that we grind the coffee beans and taste the samples. At the end we check for defective beans," Assefa explains.

And that screening is a very difficult and lengthy process, says lab worker Mubarik Abaoli.

“We sort out the defects manually, by hand. And we sort out the defect according to the defect types. The types are immature, paste damage, foxy, black - all has to be sorted out according to the severity of the defects,” Mubarik Abaoli says.

Cashing in abroad

Nevertheless, Ethiopia is cashing in on its coffee reputation with consumers in more than 120 countries and a yearly export revenue of more than $840 million.

But not all the best coffee leaves Ethiopia. With 40 percent of the coffee production consumed at home, it remains an important part of everyday life at work, at home and at ceremonies just to celebrate that special cup.

词汇解析

intense

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

adj.强大的；紧张的；强烈的；激烈的；深刻的

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

There was intense competition between the rival companies to get the contract.

为得到这份合同,各不相让的两家公司展开了激烈的竞争。

He looked at his fiancee with intense emotions.

他满含深情地看着他的未婚妻。

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moisture

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

n.水分；潮气；湿度

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

The plants absorb moisture from the soil.

植物从土壤中吸取水分。

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reputation

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

n.好名声；声誉，名声，名气

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.

这家商店因公平交易而获好名声。

He earned a high reputation for his learning.

他在学识方面享有很高的声誉。

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grind

难度：5星基本词汇，属常用1000词

英汉解释

v.磨；压迫；碾碎；磨得吱吱响；逐渐停顿

n.苦事；磨；碾

参考例句

用作动词 (v.)

It won't grind down any finer than this.

不能磨得比这个再细了。

用作名词 (n.)

Marking examination papers is a real grind.

批改试卷的确是个苦事。

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yearly

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

adj.每年的

adv.每年地；一年一次地

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

Many Greek cities had to send yearly tribute to Athens.

许多希腊城市不得不每年向雅典进贡。

用作副词 (adv.)

I get a physical examination yearly.

我一年做一次身体检查。

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defect

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

n.缺点；缺陷

vi.背叛

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

If it were not for this defect, I shall hire him at once.

如果不是因为这个缺点，我会马上雇用他。

用作不及物动词 (vi.)

We thought that his troops might defect.

我们认为他的部队会叛变。

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