This coffee comes from the Biftu Gudina cooperative, which manages two processing sites located 300 metres apart near the Naso river. These are known as Site 1 and Site 2.

Together with the Nano Challa cooperative, the Biftu Gudina cooperative is overseen by the Kata Muduga Farmers’ Union, situated in the Barsoma Kebele of Geera District, Jimma Zone.

Origin: Biftu Gudina Cooperative, Kata Muduga Farmers’ Union

Bersema Farmers

The Biftu Gudina cooperative is managed by the Kata Muduga Farmers’ Union, together with the Nano Challa cooperative.

Cherries from this lot come from a farm spanning 284.78 hectares, cultivated at an elevation of 1914 metres above sea level. The soil, classified as silt loam, has high humus content and is slightly acidic. It is characterised by its friable red to dark colour.

Surrounding natural forest vegetation provides shade for the coffee plants to thrive. On average, there are 1500 to 2800 trees within the farm.

Harvest & Post-Harvest

Once cherries are harvested, they undergo sorting using water to remove any floaters, supplemented by manual sorting. Flotation tanks, typically cemented or occasionally metal containers, are used for this process.

The cherries are then pulped using PENAGOS equipment known for minimal water usage and water recycling components. Mucilage is removed mechanically, with some slight soaking as needed. Following this, the coffee is soaked for 8-12 hours.

Skin drying occurs over a period of 8-14 hours, after which the coffee is transferred to raised beds or tables made from local materials like bamboo woods, positioned at an average height of 1-1.2 metres. This drying process lasts from 7 to 11 days.

The coffee is stored on cemented floors within a warehouse dedicated to conditioning of parchment, for a minimum of 12 hours before packaging. Each lot is carefully separated by time and space, with a coding and numbering system implemented for identification and tracking purposes.

Impact

The Biftu Gudina Cooperative was established through Technoserve — an NGO that supports farmers in setting up washing stations and new cooperative structures. We visited their first site in 2012 when it was still under construction, and immediately promised to commit to buying their coffees. Today, the cooperative has two washing stations and more than 600 members. From the beginning, they used eco pulpers and did water treatment, established farmer training programs, as well as traceability systems.