Cup Notes: Bubble Gum, Jammy Fruit, Floral, Complex
Origin: Ethiopia
Region: Gedeb
Drying Station: Lalesa
Process: Natural 
Elevation: 2200masl
Variety: Local Indigenous Landraces and Heirloom Cultivars
Grower: Smallholder Farmers Organized Around Ephtah Specialty Coffee
 
We purchased one coffee from the Lalesa drying station processed two different ways. This is the natural processed variant of this coffee. This variant has slightly more process forward notes. 
 
This is a centrally-processed natural from the very south of Yirgacheffe. The exporter of this coffee, Ephtah Specialty Coffee, is a very new women-founded and led group that brings years of former industry experience to a new venture. Lalesa, where the processing site is located, is part of the greater Gedeb district, known for its gifted processing climate and exquisite coffees, both washed and naturals.
 
Lalesa Drying Station & Processing
 
Ephtah’s Lalesa site employs over 350 individuals during harvest time to manage all processing and financial operations. During harvest cherry is received every day. The station produces traditional sundried naturals and washed coffees as well as a small quantity of honey processed coffee. Honeys begin with a cleaning and sorting of fresh picked cherry prior to intake. However, rather than immediately depulping, the Ephtah team gives the cherries one full day to rest on the drying beds, allowing some extra time for the cherries to further ripen and increase their internal sugar concentration. After the initial rest cherries are depulped and moved to shaded drying beds with the full mucilage intact, where it dries for 18-20 days. 
 
Ephtah Specialty Coffee
 
The Lalesa processing site is owned by Ephtah Specialty Coffee, a newly-founded exporter managed by Wubit Bekele and a small team of other ambitious and talented women with many years of coffee industry experience between them. Wubit was raised in Nekempte, a well-known coffee area, and after working many years for a large exporter as a university graduate, decided to start her own company. Ephtah has relationship-based sourcing now in West Arsi, Sidama, Gedeo, and Guji zones, ranging from central processors to single farmers with only a few hectares of land.  
Ephtah’s sustainability is focused on interpersonal strength and includes the following pillars: women inclusion and empowerment; community engagement; and boosting production and improving quality. Women, especially, are recognized by Ephtah as the “underappreciated pillar” of Ethiopia’s coffee industry, who deserve to be competitive in the industry, profitable, and who should be thriving in a way that inspires young women to start their own businesses.