Koke

Coffee processing in Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia looks a little different. Due to border disputes, land lines shifted causing farmers to have smaller plots. This means many farmers are unable to grow coffee and process it on their land. Farmers must pick coffee selectively, harvesting cherries only at peak ripeness. Pickers average 100 to 200 pounds of cherries a day, producing 20 to 40 pounds of beans. The day’s harvest is then sold to the washing station.
Due to this separation, the Koke washing station began guiding farmers to increase quality. With near perfect growing conditions, crops exceeded expectations. Demand for products from Koke grew. So, in 2020 they founded another station called Birbes Kela. Semira Negash owns and operates this station, making a name for herself with a 23rd place rank in the 2021 Ethiopia Cup of Excellence competition. Semira’s high placement made waves in a culture where traditionally men are land and business owners. In fact, 70% of Ethiopia’s coffee workers are women but only 34% get income and a leadership role is rare. Semira’s accomplishments stand out as she pushes traditional boundaries and creates stellar coffee. The Koke and Birbes Kela stations as well as around 1200 smallholder farmers are to thank for the Koke lot and we are excited to see what else comes out of these stations.

Farm details:

Producer: Smallholder Producers

Farm/Co-op: Smallholder Farms

Region: Yirgacheffe

Country: Ethiopia

Altitude: 1800 m

Process: Honey

Varietal: Heirloom

Flavor profile:

Taste: Peach, Blueberry, Floral

Acidity: Medium Plus

Sweetness: Medium

Body: Light Plus