74148 is an heirloom Ethiopian landrace variety that was researched at the Jimma Agricultural Research Center in 1974, which is why this set of varieties all begin with “74xxx”. These are not hybrids, but rather original varieties selected from “mother trees” and chosen for their positive attributes like production, quality, and disease resistance. 

This variety specifically is the product of a mother tree selected in the area of Bishari in the Metu woreda of the Illuababora zone in 1974. After passing through various levels of CBD screening protocols under field and lab conditions, selection 74148 was approved for release in 1979 for its resistance to CBD and good yield. It is recommended for production within the Gera, Jimma, and Metu coffee-growing zones, with [elevation] ranges of 1500 – 2100 masl. It has compact growth canopy but does not perform well in drought conditions.

Processing

With the special prep (what the producers generally call “Premium” in Ethiopia) the cherries are collected from a limited number of small-holder farmers. 

90% of the cherries are perfectly picked, the right red color. 5% semi red and 5% overripe. 

All of it is processed and stored it separately from the other lots. They generally produce a very small number of bags in this way every year. 

In most instances, cherries used to produce these lots are collected from a day lot (picked in one day). 

Natural coffees in Ethiopia are first sorted for ripeness and quality before being rinsed clean Then they are spread on raised drying beds or tables, where they will be rotated constantly throughout the course of drying. Drying can take an average of 8–25 days, depending on the weather.