We’re deeply grateful to include this coffee from Basha Bekele in our offering for the first time. Grown in the highlands of Sidama and processed with care and integrity, this lot represents not only exceptional quality but also a commitment to community and producer equity that we’re proud to support.
🌍 Community Context: Honouring Basha Bekele and the Spirit of Bombe
In December, our sourcing partners at Crop to Cup visited Basha Bekele’s drying station in Bombe, Bensa a place deeply rooted in community and tradition. Basha and his father, both devoted community leaders, built a church on their land to serve the people of Bombe. Before smallholders were granted export licenses, Basha’s father managed a cooperative that supplied coffee to the Sidama Union, selling their cherries through collective channels.
Today, Basha carries forward that legacy with his own export license, cultivating coffee on 12 hectares of semi-forested land. He grows primarily the 74158 variety, locally known as “Walega,” and operates cherry collection sites in Bombe, Shantawane, and Kokose, sourcing from producers farming at altitudes up to 2300 masl. Despite high cherry prices this season, Basha went above and beyond by issuing a second payment to the 126 producers he worked with—an uncommon but deeply appreciated gesture of fairness and respect.
Basha exclusively produces natural (dry) processed coffees, including innovative anaerobic fermentations. He practices meticulous cherry flotation and slow drying on raised beds, with some lots dried under shade to preserve complexity and nuance.
We are proud to celebrate Basha Bekele’s remarkable achievement: winning the 2024 Ethiopian Cup of Excellence. This is our first import from Basha, and we couldn’t be more honoured to share his coffee and story with you.
Sidama: A Land of Legendary Coffee
Sidama is one of Ethiopia’s most celebrated coffee-growing regions, known for its rich volcanic soil, high elevations, and bimodal rainfall. These ideal conditions allow coffee cherries to ripen slowly and evenly, producing vibrant, complex flavors that have captivated coffee lovers around the world.
