Ethiopia - Yirgacheffe Huke Banko Gotiti Natural

COUNTRY: Ethiopia

REGION: Gotiti Kebele, Gedeb Woreda, Gedeo Zone, SNNP

WASHING STATION: Huke Washing Station

FARMER/GROWER: 600 smallholder farmers

VARIETIES: Local heirloom

PROCESSING: Natural

ALTITUDE: 1950-2150 m.a.s.l.

We Taste: Rainier Cherry, Cold Foam, Orange Zest

DESCRIPTION

The Huke washing station receives cherries from more than 600 growers around the Gotiti

kebele. For this premium natural processed coffee, all coffee cherries are hand-sorted before

receiving. After hand-selecting, the cherries are then floated in water to further separate by

density. After initial separation, rinsed cherries are laid out to dry on raised beds in layers

5cm thick. The washing station team turns these cherries 5 to 6 times per day to ensure even

sun exposure and rate of drying. This daily attention continues for 15 to 21 days, until the

cherry pods reach 11 to 12% moisture content. Once dried, the coffee is moved into a nearby

warehouse for final homogenization and storage until the coffee is milled.

The Huke 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.