Visiting this farm was the last stop on our trip to Ethiopia. We were lucky to end our stay at this beautiful washing station. We arrived too late to see the proceessing in action, but we were able to visit the farm and see its impressive facilities.
The semi-forest system creates a landscape rich in dense natural forest, with the farm also divided into plots, each planted with a single variety. The varieties grown here include 74110, 74112, 74140, and 75227.
Process
The cherries are pulped the morning after harvest using a Penagos eco-pulper. This is a significant investment, and it’s not something we see often in Ethiopia. The machine removes the mucilage and greatly reduces the amount of water needed to wash the parchment. After pulping, the parchment is soaked for a day before being spread out on raised beds to dry.
The coffee dries on traditional African raised beds. At over 2000 meters above sea level, and with the washing station’s favorable orientation, conditions are ideal for drying. The process usually takes 10 to 15 days.
