*NEW SPECIAL RELEASE* Ethiopia - Gedeb - Anaerobic Natural

STRAWBERRY, PASSION FRUIT, MANGO, BLUEBERRY

I’ve been soooo hyped for this to arrive in the UK and to get it in the roastery. I wouldn’t be roasting coffee, wouldn’t be drinking coffee, wouldn’t have a cafe, none of that, if I didn’t have my first cup of an Ethiopian Natural 10/12 years ago (I think it was from Foundry Roasters, top stuff). That first natural I had was called ‘Rocko Mountain’, to me it’s the MVP of a funky fruit bomb from Ethiopia. I don’t think I’ve had a crop since that’s like it from 10 years ago, this is damn damn close. A hit of strawberry and blueberry on first sip, super complex as it cools, it’s an absolute delight. If Ethiopian naturals are your bag, then get this. I’m excited writing this as I’ve sessioned about 3 cups in a row so far today. Anyway, thanks, Joel.

THE BEAN AND PROCESSING

Sourced through Falcon and Ephtah.

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.

Lalesa, Gedeb

Lalesa, located in Gedeb, has become a significant sourcing location for Ephtah. The Lalesa site is owned by Ephtah, with land purchased in July 2023, followed by the construction of warehouses and drying beds in September 2023. The region is predominantly Christian, with both Protestant and Orthodox followers. The community benefits from various social projects initiated by Ephtah, including the opening of a daycare center for farmers' children and participation in the Ama Commitment scheme, which supports women farmers.

The farm, situated at an elevation of 2150-2200 MASL, covers 3.5 hectares and employs 20 permanent staff, with numbers swelling to 250 during the harvest season from late November to January. The farm features 350 drying beds and cultivates Heirloom coffee varieties.

Lot Information

The Lalesa, Gedeb lot, grown at an elevation of 2150-2200 MASL, encompasses a total parcel size of approximately 9000 kg. The coffee is naturally grown under the shade of trees, primarily Ensete (false banana tree). The coffee undergoes fermentation in plastic barrels for nine days, followed by a drying period of 13-18 days. It is stored in the site warehouse before being moved to Addis Ababa when ready. 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