Additional Information
Welcome an exceptionally complex, naturally processed Ethiopian speciality coffee from the remote, densely forested mountains of Guji Megadu. Bette Buna literally translates to ‘House of Coffee’, and this stunning lot perfectly embodies the rich heritage, spectacular flavour potential, and community spirit of Ethiopian coffee farming.
The Story Behind the Cup: A Family Legacy
The roots of Bette Buna run deep. The company’s story began in the village of Taferi when Grandfather Syoum and Grandmother Emame asked Dawit and Hester to take over the family farm. More importantly, they were asked to take over the responsibility of building and supporting the local community.
Since establishing themselves five years ago in Sidama, Bette Buna has successfully expanded their incredible impact to Guji Megadu. Working closely with local chiefs and community leaders, they have replicated their sustainable model in one of Guji’s most remote and mountainous communities. With its incredibly rich soil and dense tree canopy, this area is widely regarded as one of the most exceptional coffee-growing regions in the entire world.
Pioneering a Liveable Income in Ethiopia
Coffee production accounts for about a third of Ethiopia's GDP, yet over 90 percent of people working in the sector do not make a liveable income. Bette Buna set out to change this narrative entirely.
- Education & Quality Premiums: They teach community farmers how to improve their soil, restore agro-forestry systems, and harvest only the ripest cherries. Because ripe cherries weigh more and produce superior coffee, farmers are paid more by weight and receive an additional quality premium.
- A Transformational Nursery: Perhaps their most vital work is distributing over 350,000 healthy, climate-adapted seedlings every year from their in-house nursery.
- Real Economic Impact: On average, farmers earn a minimum of $2 per year per mature seedling. This translates to an annual economic boost of more than $650,000 for the region—an absolutely life-changing figure in an area where the average household income is less than $50 a month for a family of nine.
The Kickstart Process: Meticulous Processing & Milling
To honour the hard work of the farmers, this specific lot underwent Bette Buna's rigorous "Kickstart Process", ensuring maximum flavour clarity and sweetness.
- Slow, Traditional Drying: The cherries were dried on raised African-style beds for 20 to 25 days, allowing for excellent airflow and a steady, even dry.
- Extended Resting: Once the target moisture level was reached, the cherries were bagged, tagged, and rested for a minimum of 8 weeks. This crucial resting period dramatically improves the complexity and intensity of the final cup profile.
- Rigorous Sorting: After local dry milling to remove the hulls, the coffee underwent a strict round of hand-sorting to remove any primary defects.
- Final Preparation: The green coffee was then transported to the Bette Buna dry mill in Gelan, close to Addis Ababa. Here, it underwent a final, exhaustive round of cleaning, size and density screening, and precision colour sorting before finally being exported to our roastery.
