Ethiopia
Where Coffee Was Born
Yirgacheffe, Sidama
Origin Story
From the Heart of Ethiopia
Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee — the very soil where Coffea arabica first grew wild in the ancient forests of the highlands. In the legendary regions of Yirgacheffe and Sidama, smallholder farmers tend coffee trees that have been passed down through generations, some over a century old. The result is a coffee of extraordinary complexity: bright, floral, and unlike anything else on Earth.
Coffee's origin story traces back to the ancient forests of Ethiopia's southwestern highlands, where legend says a goatherd named Kaldi first discovered the energizing effects of coffee cherries. Today, over 15 million Ethiopians depend on coffee for their livelihood. The heirloom varieties grown here — some unnamed and ancient — carry genetic diversity found nowhere else.
The Land
Terroir & Climate
The high-altitude plateaus of Yirgacheffe (1,800–2,200m) and Sidama create ideal conditions for slow cherry maturation. Volcanic soils rich in minerals, combined with consistent rainfall and dramatic temperature shifts between day and night, develop the sugars and acids that give Ethiopian coffee its signature brightness and floral complexity.
Elevation
1,800–2,200m
Variety
Heirloom Ethiopian (multiple indigenous varieties)
Harvest
October – January
Processing
Most of our Ethiopian lots are washed (wet-processed)
Our Partners
Yirgacheffe Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union (YCFCU)
45
Member Farmers
12
Women Members
2002
Year Founded
Founded after the Ethiopian coffee market was liberalized, YCFCU represents over 45,000 farming families across 22 primary cooperatives. They handle everything from cherry collection to dry milling, ensuring quality control and fair pricing at every step.
Community Impact
Built three new schools and a rural health clinic with Fair Trade premium funds.
The People
Meet the Farmers
Abebech Gudeta
Lead Farmer, Organic Section
Abebech inherited her 3-hectare farm from her grandmother, who planted the first heirloom trees in the 1940s. She now grows 12 distinct indigenous varieties, each with its own flavor profile. Her washed coffees consistently score above 87 points.
“The trees remember my grandmother. I am only their caretaker.”
Tadesse Tura
Cooperative Chairperson
Tadesse has led his cooperative since 2008, negotiating direct trade relationships that bypass the traditional auction system. His work has increased member premiums by 40% while maintaining the highest quality standards.
“When buyers visit our farms, they understand the value of what we grow.”
From Cherry to Bean
Processing Method
Most of our Ethiopian lots are washed (wet-processed): cherries are depulped within 12 hours of picking, fermented in water for 24–48 hours, washed in channels, and dried on raised African beds for 10–14 days. Select lots are natural-processed for deeper fruit-forward profiles.
Annual Production
480 bags (60kg)
Avg Farm Size
1.8 hectares
Shade Grown
85%
Water Conservation
Recycled at 3 washing stations
Seed to Cup
Journey of the Bean
From cherry to cup — trace the remarkable path of Ethiopia coffee through harvest, processing, export, and roasting.
Harvest
October – January
During October – January, farmers across Yirgacheffe, Sidama hand-pick only the ripest cherries. Yirgacheffe Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union (YCFCU) trains members in selective harvesting — often passing through the same trees three times to ensure peak ripeness.
The Ethiopia harvest is a community effort. Families rise before dawn to pick in the cool morning air, carrying baskets of crimson cherries down mountain paths to collection points.
Key Details
Pickers
45+ farmers
Passes
2–3 selective
Elevation
1,800–2,200m
In the Cup
Tasting Notes
Elevation
1,800–2,200m
Variety
Heirloom Ethiopian (multiple indigenous varieties)
Harvest
October – January
Certifications
USDA Organic, Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance
Our Partnership
GMB Impact in Ethiopia
5
Years Partnered
35–45%
Premium Above Market
340
Families Supported
3
Active Projects
Community Projects
School construction in Gedeb
Clean water wells in Kochere
Women farmer training program
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