Ethiopia – Bule Hora

Region: Guji

Farmers: 600 Small holders

Altitude: 1800-2000 MASL

Varietal: Heirloom

Process: Fermentation for 72 hours, s sun-dried on raised beds for 11-15 days until reached a 10.5% of moisture

Notes: Black Tea, lemon, raspberry, cocoa

100% Arabica

The Bule Hora washing station is privately owned by Matebe Berese. It’s located in Guji, close to the town of Bule Hora (formerly called Hagere Mariam). The washing station has about 600 members who deliver cherries. Profits are invested in the community and local school. The farmers delivering cherries are registered and entitled to training on composting, pruning, and mulching to help increase both quality and yield. It is relatively cold due to the high elevation, so maturation, fermentation, and drying all take longer than in other regions. 

Other crops grown to promote biodiversity include corn, wheat and barley. 

This coffee is brought to us by Collaborative Coffee Source and their partners in Ethiopia Moplaco. Moplaco is headed by Heleanna a courageous woman and has done an admirable job of continuing the legacy of her father’s. Under her leadership, Moplaco is constantly evolving to produce ever-increasing quality coffee in spite of the complexity and challenges continually present within Ethiopia’s coffee production and auction systems. Born in East Harar as a young girl Heleanna was forced to flee her home in the face of civil war and so grew up in Europe, where she eventually established a successful career in finance. With her father’s unexpected passing she was put in the position to come back and successfully run the family business.

Yanni Georgalis established Moplaco in 1972 and was a third-generation coffee exporter. Yanni was highly respected not only within Ethiopia but was well known and beloved by buyers of Ethiopian coffee around the world. He rightfully maintained a reputation for not only selling the highest quality coffee but also for his integrity in all aspects of the business. Heleanna, Yianni’s daughter, comes from a long and established lineage of highly respected Ethiopian coffee exporters. 

Photos and text courtesy of Collaborative Coffee Source