Deep in the hills of the Guji region of Ethiopia, a farm and mill project is shaking things up. Tesfaye Bekele’s Suke Quto Farm is a model for coffee in the Guji region of Ethiopia. It was established in 2000 after Bekele spent a few years working for the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection organization. The goal was to create an example of how a coffee farm can create beneficial environmental diversification as forest land in the Guji zone regrew following devastating bushfires in previous years. More than 20 years later, people in the region have learned and benefited from his example of success. Tesfaye Bekele now works with 171 producers in the area who deliver their cherries to the Suke Quto mill for processing.
Tesfaye has leveraged his farming success by expanding his operation to an exporting company. It allows him to capture more of the value of the coffee he and the producers in the area grow. As a result, he’s been able to partner with Trabocca, a specialty coffee importer, on creating the Suke Quto community project. One of the largest benefits of this initiative is the huge improvements made to the schools in the area, allowing them to accommodate more students and better access to proper education in the region.
| Flavor Notes: | White Tea / Lemon / Honey |
| Producer: |
Tesfaye Bekele |
| Region: | Guji |
| Variety: | Kurume + Welicho |
| Process: | Washed |
This offering is a strong example of how fantastic a washed coffee from Ethiopia can be. It has bright acidity and big floral and citrus notes, rounded out by a honey-like sweetness. Although complex, this coffee is easy to drink due to its tea-like body.