ETHIOPIA, Tesfaye Bekele, Guji, Sidamo

Producer: Suke Quto - Tesfaye Bekele. 

Growing altitude: 1800-2200m above sea level. 

Botanical variety: Kurume, Welicho. 

Process: Natural. 

Tasting notes: Syrup, blackberry, cherry cola, mango, red currant flavours.

Roast date: 18 September, 2024

After a bushfire, out of a desire of forest conservation, Tesfaye started Suke Quto Farm In the aftermath of the fire, it was possible to conserve the forest by distributing coffee and shade tree seedlings amongst the local community. He recruited 150 out-growers, that replanted the forest. With this, Tesfaye accomplished his dream with Suke Quto Farm, developing environmentally friendly coffee, and sustaining the local community with a consistent income. The local smallholders harvest organic coffee and deliver it to Suke Quto Farm for processing.

In 2009, Tesfaye sent samples to our international coffee exporter. After cupping his coffee, he was to be informed that the coffee he had submitted was disappointing. Tesfaye did not believe this and personally came over the next day to deliver new samples. Outstanding quality was the result. It turned out that the first sample was not even from Suke Quto Farm, emphasizing the necessity to buy coffees directly from the producers and have a fully traceable system in place. Together with the exporter Tesfaye has conducted numerous experiments, trying to improve his coffee ever further.

Trabocca our export partner pays for the farm’s organic certification and if the quality standards are met, gives premiums. “Trabocca is our main buyer,” – Tesfaye explains, “We sell our coffee to them every year and they are distributing it throughout the world. Trabocca is very serious about quality control and brought us to the level at which we are now, where we are very proud of our product.” 

Together with our exporter Trabocca, we have been purchasing coffee from Suke Quto for more than 6 years. Our long standing relationship is one we are immensely proud of, and the ability to support Tesfaye and the community surrounding Suke Quto is fundamental in not only promoting quality coffee, but also the well being of coffee communities around the world.