Blueberries, white chocolate and nougat.
Washing Station: Konga Sede
Region: Yirgacheffe, Sidama
Country: Ethiopia
Processing: Natural
Elevation: 1,800 - 2,000m
Varieties: Weleso Gurume
Sourced Through: Upstream Imports
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This wonderful coffee is produced by Ethiopian exporter GnF at their Konga Sede washing station in the heart of Yirgacheffe, just a couple of miles away from the town that gave name to this world-renowned coffee. GnF is the husband and wife team of Gizaw (pictured) and Frehiwot Alemayehu who own three washing stations. The Konga station is managed by Yirgalen Melid who has been working there for almost 20 years; a producer himself, he coordinates the arrivals of coffee during the harvest as well as the processing of the coffee according to the strict GnF quality guidelines.
More than 400 farmers (known as 'outgrowers') deliver their fresh coffee cherries to the station on the same day they are picked. The farms, small in size, are situated at an altitude between 1800 and 2000 meters above sea level. The total annual production is of around 150 tonnes and the predominant Arabica variety planted is known in the area as 'Weleso Gurume'.
Outgrowers are paid their first installment on the spot and many times they stay around to overlook how their coffee is processed. Then during the offseason, they are paid the balance of the agreed price. This is not a condition imposed by GnF but a mutual arrangement with the farmers to help them plan their domestic finances. They do not have to go through the ECX (Ethiopian Commodity Exchange) but the outturn quality test is of the same standard. The additional transport expenses are saved by the outgrowers improving their bottom line revenue.
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