*NEW RECESSION PROOF BANGER #29* Ethiopia - Chelichele

STRAWBERRY, RASPBERRY, TEA

The 25’ crop of Ethiopians this year have delivered in spades, I’ve loved getting samples in from our importers, some seriously impressive stuff and I wanted a fantastic fresh crop natural for a recession proof release. This is it. Floral and defined fruit in the cup, it has that underlying funk you get from a natural but at the same time this is super clean, properly enjoyable. If you like a classic example of a lightly roasted fruity Ethiopian natural, then this is for you. I’m supping this on filter, but would work well on espresso if this flavour profile is something you go after.

As always though, limited stock, gold for silver. Cheers, Joel.

THE COFFEE ITSELF

Sourced through Falcon Speciality and Ephtah coffee in Ethiopia.

Ephtah Specialty Coffee is dedicated to building sustainable and collaborative supply chains that benefit customers, farmers, and their communities. 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.

Ephtah has vertical suppliers where they pre finance upto 85% of the harvest to allow them to work securely and only focus on the quality of the coffee. The Chelichele site is owned by Tamiru Amare (Tamiru translated to "Miracle" in English). The site is 2.ha and has 200 beds - coffee is sourced from the Chelichele area (average farm size is around 0.5 hectares.) The site has 6 permanent employers and then 110 in the harvest.

Lot Information

The coffee is initially floated to remove quakers, then placed on drying beds for 12-15 days. Green beans are handpicked by local women. The processing methods are chosen to maximize quality. Once dried and stored, the coffee is transported to Moplaco in Gerji, Addis Ababa, and then moved to Djibouti via train for export.

Economic, Social, Governance

Ephtah has undertaken several social and environmental projects associated with this coffee lot. A daycare center for farmers' children is set to open in Gedeb, and some of the women farmers in the area are part of the Ama Commitment scheme. Payments to farmers are structured with an initial payment made as soon as the coffee is received at the site, ensuring timely compensation for the coffee produced.

General

The main challenge faced during this crop cycle has been financial constraints due to the National Bank of Ethiopia's policy to control inflation. Despite these challenges, the site remains committed to producing high-quality coffee and contributing to the local economy. Future plans include expanding the Ama Commitment scheme, building a water tank for flotation to remove quakers, and increasing the number of drying beds. Additionally, Ephtah plans to grow other crops on their land, allowing local people to cultivate and sell these crops in the local market. In addition to coffee, the farmers also produce Ensete and false banana, which are used to make a local food called Kocho. The Ephtah site in Lalesa is the largest drying site in Gedeb, further underscoring the company's commitment to quality and capacity in coffee production.