ETHIOPIA, Alemayehu Daniel, Gedeb, Yirgacheffe

Producer: Alemayehu Daniel.

Growing altitude: 1800-2000m above sea level.

Botanical variety: Ethiopian heirloom.

Process: Natural.

Tasting notes: Honey, jasmine, watermelon, pineapple, citrus, raspberry flavours. 

Roast date: 1 October, 2025

Back in 2011, a new movement began in Yirgacheffe. Small and medium farmers were encouraged to step out from under the shadow of the large cooperatives by investing in their own processing and drying facilities. For the first time, producers could take full control of their coffee, picking only the ripest cherries, processing with care, and drying with precision. This shift gave rise to a generation of farmers able to craft their own microlots, elevating both quality and identity.

Yirgacheffe is renowned for its complex, floral, and citrus-driven coffees, grown at altitudes reaching 2,000 meters above sea level. Traditionally, cherries from across the region were blended together at cooperative mills. But with the advent of small private micro-mills, we now have the privilege to taste coffees that tell the story of a single farm, a single family, and a single vision.

One such story belongs to Alemayehu. His grandfather established the family farm in 1946, planting it with coffee trees from Kochere. Since 1998, Alemayehu has carried on this legacy with a hands-on approach, dedicating himself to nurturing both the land and his community.

This particular lot is naturally processed: cherries are carefully picked and laid out on raised African beds, turned every few hours to ensure even drying. Over six to eight weeks, the fruit slowly transforms under the Ethiopian sun, developing the clarity and depth that Yirgacheffe is famous for. Once dried to perfection, the coffee is hulled, sorted, and prepared for export with meticulous attention.

When we first visited Alemayehu’s farm, we were welcomed not just by his coffee but by his family’s warmth and generosity. It was one of the most heart-warming experiences in our sourcing journey and cemented our commitment to support Alemayehu and his community well beyond that first visit.

This cup is more than just coffee, it is heritage, dedication, and the future of independent farming in Yirgacheffe.

“For many years, I dreamed of being able to process and share my own coffee, but it felt impossible without the support of partners who believed in me.

Working together has given me the chance not only to grow better coffee, but to create a future for my family and opportunities for my community.

Every bag of coffee that leaves my farm carries our story, our hard work, and our gratitude.” - Alemayehu Daniel