Ethiopia Chelbesa Washed

Origin and harvest

Ethiopian coffee is closely linked to the rhythm of the local seasons. Three main seasons –Bega, Belg and Krempt– they shape the entire growing and harvesting cycle.

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  Bega (October–January)is the dry season that is crucial for coffee harvesting and processing.
  
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  Belg (February – May)brings the first rains that stimulate the flowering and development of coffee cherries.
  
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  Krempt (June – September)It is characterized by heavy rainfall that promotes fruit ripening. As the end of September approaches, the rain suddenly stops, creating ideal conditions for ripening and hand harvesting in November.
  

Ephtah Specialty Coffee

Ephtah Specialty Coffee builds sustainable and transparent supply chains that benefit farmers, communities and customers. The company supports the role of women in the coffee industry and recognizes their vital contribution to social and economic change in Ethiopia.

Emphasis is placed on quality at every stage – from cultivation to export. Eftah specializes in supplying the highest quality green coffee beans and has a long-standing commitment to fair conditions throughout the chain.

Chelbesa, Gedeb

The Chelbesa region in the Gedeb region is one of the most important locations for growing fine coffee in Ethiopia, and Eftah exclusively manages a washing station there, ensuring the careful processing of the coffee cherries.

The farm is located at an altitude of 2150-2200 m above sea level on an area of ​​2 hectares. It employs 17 permanent employees and up to 150 seasonal workers during the harvest season. The coffee is dried on 150 African beds and traditional Ethiopian varieties are grown here.

Batch information

This particular batch from Chelbesa was grown at an altitude of 2200 m above sea level and represents a volume of approximately 38,400 kg of coffee cherries.

After careful hand-picking, the best cherries are floated, crushed and then dry-fermented (without water) in fermentation tanks. The drying process takes 10-15 days on raised beds, which significantly affects the flavor profile of the resulting coffee.

After drying and storage, the coffee is transported to the Moplaca processing center in Addis Ababa and from there it travels by train to Djibouti, from where it is exported.

Social and economic context

This batch is not associated with a specific social or environmental project, however, Ephtah continues to support local communities and ensure fair remuneration for farmers and workers throughout the chain.

Challenges and future outlook

The main challenge in this harvest cycle was maintaining optimal fermentation and drying conditions – key to maintaining high quality. Nevertheless, Chelbesa remains one of the most important locations for fine coffee in the region.

In the future, Eftah plans to expand its processing infrastructure and increase its support for local growers. In addition to coffee, other crops are grown in the area, which strengthens the food security and self-sufficiency of local communities.