Ethiopia

Ethiopia is an origin that is close to the hearts of everyone in specialty coffee. The original home of the Arabica plant, the coffee here displays a wide range of genetic diversity and flavour profiles. The country is not without it’s issues however, with high levels of poverty, low development in the rural areas, and very diffuse supply chains, value transfer can be very tricky and smallholders struggle to turn a profit with an average farm size of 0.7ha.

Our partners in Ethiopia, BNT Industries, are one of the most prestigious exporters in the specialty space. Paying significant premiums on the average cherry prices, as well as large post-harvest premiums once the coffee is sold, Brei and Teddy use coffee as a pathway to mutual profit and development across the chain.

We are working with the Worka Wuri washing station, based in Worka Sakaro Kebele just outside Gedeb, on a long term development project in partnership with BNT and the Ethiopian Government. Primary school completion rates are sub 50% in Ethiopia, and as a result child labor is extremely common. All of our purchases from BNT have a premium attached that is financing the construction of 5 classrooms at the school at Worka Sakaro. This will provide secondary school education access to over 1000 children who would otherwise have no option but to (try) to enter the workforce.