The coffee farmers that participated in this lot mainly grow heirloom varieties. These are cultivated at 2150 to 2200 m.a.s.l in Lalesa and Gedeb. Once the cherries arrive at the processing station, the Ephtah team carefully selects the best ones, removing any that are unripe, overripe, or defective. This step is crucial to ensure a high-quality final product.
The coffee cherries are placed in raised beds resting for one day to develop more sugar in the cherry. After this, coffee is pulped and placed on covered beds to dry for 18 to 20 days.
“Red honey” is the process where the about half of pulp remains on the bean after pulping. More moisture and more sugar during drying, resulting in higher fermentation during drying. From a flavour perspective, this processing method lands right between the natural and the washed method.
Ephtah Specialty Coffee is a women-owned coffee export company based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, established in 2021 by Wubit Bekele. It focuses on exporting high-quality Ethiopian coffee, particularly Grade 1 specialty coffee, processed using methods like natural, honey, anaerobic, and slow-dried techniques. The company emphasizes sustainable and traceable supply chains, prioritizing quality, transparency, and community impact. Ephtah supports women in the coffee industry through training, financing, and leadership opportunities, working directly with female farmers and ensuring direct payments to their personal bank accounts. Its operations include the Lalesa washing station in Gedeb, Yirgacheffe, the largest drying and washing site in the region, which employs 20 permanent staff and up to 250 seasonal workers during the harvest season (November-January). Ephtah also invests in social and environmental projects, such as quality premiums, school fee assistance, and plans to expand drying facilities and community support initiatives like the Ama Commitment scheme.
