Country: Ethiopia
Region: Bombe Kebele, Bensa Woreda, Sidama Zone
Varietal: 74110, 74158
Process: Natural
Altitude: 1950 to 2150 m.a.s.l.

Farm: Ayla Washing Station

FARMER/GROWER: 725 smallholder farmers

We Taste: Cranberry, Pinot Noir, Honey

DESCRIPTION

The Ayla washing station is just south of Shantawane village with a river wrapping itself around the open grass where the drying beds are built. The river keeps temperatures cooler and brings more airflow across the drying beds. 725 growers deliver their coffee to the Ayla washing station. The natural processed coffees at the Ayla washing station first go through hand-sorting to remove under ripe cherries. The coffee fruit is then floated in water to separate “floaters” and rinse the fruit. After sorting, the cherries are spread out on raised beds and turned at least 5 times per day to ensure even drying. Depending on the weather, this drying process takes between 15 and 21 days.

The Ayla washing station is owned by Testi Trading and operated by the Yonis family and their team. We have had the pleasure of buying coffees from Faysel Yonis since 2015 and the coffee never disappoints! Testi Trading makes significant investments in the communities that they operate in through their Project Direct initiatives. So far they have completed construction of multiple primary schools and even the first ever high school in the town of Hamasho, a small town in Sidama.