HABTAMU FEKADU AGA COFFEE EXPORT

Cherry is purchased from local collection center and registered outgrowers and trucked to the washing station, where it is pulped and undergo a submerged fermentation spanning 48-72 hours depending on the temperature, followed by a second 12-hour submerged fermentation after washing. Drying takes 10-12 days on raised beds. Habtamu Fekadu Aga (‘Kuri Mountain Coffee’) was founded in 2015 by Aaga Dinsa, the grandson of a coffee farmer in Kuri kebele. The farm Aaga Dinsa inherited from his grandfather continues to serve as the center of the export operation with 105 hectares of planting in Kuri kebele and 837 hectares total including the farms of the 144 registered outgrowers that contribute cherry to company washing stations in Wolega, Guji and Jimma. The company holds organic certification as well as Fair for Life certification. Through Fair for Life, Habtamu Fekadu contributes $0. 12 per pound of exports for the as well as 5% of company profits to a development fund reinvested in the community through food, clothing, schooling, roads, and facilities and equipment for healthcare. Until liberalization of the Ethiopian export system in 2017, Habtamu Fekadu sold coffee through ECX but now engages in direct export. Ethiopia is a coffee powerhouse. Ethiopia is proudly a nation that has never been colonized, and the longtime government has been from a tribal minority (the Tigray). In 2018 there was a coup that installed an Oromo president – the largest tribe in Ethiopia. Coffee accounts for 60% of foreign income, and is about 40% of total country exports. For the scope (Africa’s largest producing country) and importance of the industry, there’s a surprising amount of consolidation. You can see more about these below. ECX: The Ethiopian Commodity Exchange was established in 2008, with good intentions. The idea was to make market prices / price discovery available to rural sellers. The ECX installed tickers at 32 rural sites and also push notifications to a quarter million subscribers. The ECX established 55 physical warehouses, where coffee is held across the country. Farmers bring parchment to the warehouse where it is graded by cuppers and given a designation. Contracts are sold to buyers that have seats on the auction. Contracts are all for 30 bag quantities, and buyers do NOT get to cup the lots before purchasing. Quickly, warehouses overflowed, prices plummeted. There was also an outcry from specialty coffee buyers who wanted to work directly, or taste coffees before contracting. Certainly, it was a difficult launch. There’s a good ‘Market Watch’ piece on it called, The Market Maker. Those regulations were soon relaxed, allowing for some direct trading to continue with individual farms. However, the regulations still maintained that buyers and sellers be de-coupled. Previously, exporters often owned wetmills in Ethiopia and could buy cherry and sell green. If you don’t, you’re stuck. This process isn’t practical for a specialty buyer, so oftentimes exporters will allow specialty buyers to cup through their purchases from the ECX and select the ones they like – the exporter can then use the coffees not selected to fill a commodity contract for another buyer. While this can result in good coffee, the traceability is lost and the ability to replicate that coffee next year is only as good as the cupper and relationship with your exporter. COOP UNIONS: When we first arrived to Ethiopia in 2013, there were only 5 operating Unions organized by geography (Oromia, Sidama, Yirgacheffe, Limmu and Bench Maji). Oromia (extending as it does) is the largest, with 405 member coops, followed by Sidama Union, tiny in comparison with just over 50 coops represented. Yirg Union is smaller still. From, there they split the remaining profit 70/30 with the coops they bought from. Recently, a new Coop Union was established called Kata Maduga. It brought together coops in Jimma that were formed by Technoserve work, and previously managed by the Oromia Union. These coops felt that their qualities were exceptional and that they could better represent themselves. It is now in its 3rd harvest, is a healthy Union and growing. We’re big fans. PRIVATE FARMS: Private farms are self-explanatory in many ways. Where they do happen is most commonly seen in the west (Jimma and Keffa Zones) where land redistribution has formed larger coffee blocks. This is called an out-grower scheme. For examples, if I had a wetmill only, I have to sell to the ECX. While this does happen, the only ones that can do it have both money and political clout, stacking the deck a bit against the smallholder. Kuri Mountain Coffee boasts a rich history dating back to 1945. It all began with Mr. The tradition continued with Mr. In 2015, Mr. They not only revitalized the original farm but also built a modern processing plant in Gidami town. They own five processing sites across different regions and collaborate with over 138 outgrowers, managing a vast area dedicated to coffee production. Currently, France is their primary export destination, and they're always looking to expand their reach, offering exceptional coffee experiences worldwide. To maintain consistent quality, Habtamu is fully committed to training producers. The independent producers receive a bonus during the harvest (1-2 birr more than the market price) as well as profits from sales. During the harvest, Habtamu provides accommodation and meals for the pickers. Throughout the year, producers are trained in organic harvest and processing. We cultivate and process high-quality, organic beans with a focus on ethical sourcing. Grown in Ethiopia's mountainous regions , the beans mature slowly, developing dense flavor profiles and a smooth, clean finish. This historic coffee farm boasts a rich heritage, dating back generations. We prioritize sustainable farming techniques, including organic cultivation and the use of natural fertilizers. Its idyllic location within Uraga Woreda unfolds across Gomaro Kolla, Yabitu Koba, Suke, Haro Labattu, Tobitu Xuxa Dida hora, and Burka Kebele. Envision lush landscapes cradled by rolling hills, where fertile soil and ideal growing conditions nurture the finest coffee beans