Ethiopian coffee production is profoundly influenced by the country's three main seasons. The Bega season (October-January) is the long dry period, crucial for coffee harvesting and processing. The Belg season (February-May) brings the first rains, essential for coffee flowering and early fruit development. The Krempt season (June-September) sees heavy rainstorms from the east, crucial for the later stages of coffee fruit development and ripening. By the end of September, the rains cease abruptly, allowing the coffee fruits to ripen, leading to a bustling harvest period by November.
EPHTAH
Ephtah Specialty Coffee is dedicated to building sustainable and collaborative supply chains that benefit customers, farmers, and their communities. The company emphasises promoting the role of women in the coffee industry, recognising their pivotal role in driving social and economic change in Ethiopia. Ephtah ensures quality at every stage of the shipment process, focusing on providing the highest quality green coffee beans and maintaining satisfaction among all stakeholders in the supply chain.
LALESA WASHING STATION
The Lalesa washing station is located in Gedeb, a region with a population of over 300,000 people. The area is predominantly Christian Protestant, with some Orthodox Christians, and the primary language spoken is Gedeoiniya. The community celebrates its main annual New Year festival on January 18th, and Enset (false banana) is the staple food. The Siqe river delineates the border between Gedeo, Guji, and the Southern regional state from Oromia
COFFEE PROCESSING
The coffee is naturally grown under shade trees, primarily Ensete (false banana tree). The best cherries are sourced from nearby farmers. Initial processing involves floating to remove quakers, followed by a day on drying beds to enhance the mucilage content of the beans. The coffee is then pulped and dried under shade for 18 to 20 days.
JOURNEY TO EXPORT
Once processed and dried, the coffee is stored at Moplaco in Gerji, Addis Ababa. From there, it is transported to Djibouti via train for export.
SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Ephtah Specialty Coffee is dedicated to social and environmental projects. The company provides initial payments to farmers upon receipt of their coffee and supports them with quality premiums, second payments, and assistance with school fees. Future investment plans include expanding the Ama Commitment scheme, building a water tank for flotation, increasing the number of drying beds, and cultivating additional crops on the land to support local markets.
CHALLENGES AND FUTURE PLANS
This year, financial constraints have been a significant challenge due to the National Bank of Ethiopia's policy to control inflation. However, Ephtah is committed to ongoing investment and development, including expanding drying facilities and supporting local farmers.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Ephtah site in Gedeb is the largest drying and washing site in the region, further underscoring the company's commitment to quality and capacity in coffee production.
- Permanent Employees: 20
- Seasonal Employees (during harvest): 250
- Drying Beds: 350
- Harvest Months: Late November - January
