Description
Location: Gedeb
Producer: smallholders
Altitude: 2150 – 2200 masl
Verietal: heirloom
Process: Natural
Roast: Light
The Lalesa washing station is located in Gedeb, a region with a population of over 300,000 people. The area is predominantly Christian Protestant, with some Orthodox Christians, and the primary language spoken is Gedeoiniya. The community celebrates its main annual New Year festival on January 18th, and Enset (false banana) is the staple food. The Siqe river delineates the border between Gedeo, Guji, and the Southern regional state from Oromia.
The coffee is naturally grown under shade trees, primarily Ensete (false banana tree). The best cherries are bought from nearby farmers. Coffee is initially floated to remove quakers, then placed on drying beds for 12-15 days. Green beans are handpicked by local women. Once processed and dried, the coffee is stored at Moplaco in Gerji, Addis Ababa. From there, it is transported to Djibouti via train for export.
Ephtah Specialty Coffee, the women-owned coffee exporter that brings us this coffee is dedicated to social and environmental projects. The company emphasizes promoting the role of women in the coffee industry, recognizing their pivotal role in driving social and economic change in Ethiopia. Ephtah ensures quality at every stage of the shipment process, focusing on providing the highest quality green coffee beans and maintaining satisfaction among all stakeholders in the supply chain. They provide initial payments to farmers upon receipt of their coffee and supports them with quality premiums, second payments, and assistance with school fees. Future investment plans include expanding the Ama Commitment scheme, building a water tank for flotation, increasing the number of drying beds, and cultivating additional crops on the land to support local markets.
Cupping Notes: peach, bergamot, manuka honey
