Kebede Wako - Ethiopia

SWEET & COMPLEX
Strawberry Jam, Rose Blossom & Peach Cobbler

PRODUCER: Kebede Wako & Family
REGION: Chelbesa, Gedeb, Yirgacheffe
PROCESS: Cherry Dried
VARIETIES: Kurume & Wolisho 

This offering from Kebede Wako is sweet and complex with notes of berries, florals, and spice. The first sip stands out with the flavors of strawberry jam that reminds us of those little sundae cups with the wooden paddle spoon. We pick up floral aromas in the aftertaste similar to fresh rose blossoms. Cooling, the cup gains more spice notes and stone fruit flavors come forward, mixing into a lingering finish of peach cobbler.

Kebede Wako is a second generation coffee farmer. He and his family maintain a 16.5 hectare coffee farm as their sole source of income. Their coffee is dried for 15-21 days and turned six times each day to ensure even drying. By maintaining their own drying operation, the family has much more control of their quality compared to the typical regional mill in the classic ECX system.

This coffee was sourced through Trabocca’s Operation Cherry Red, which highlights individual producers. Most coffee in Ethiopia is sold to regional washing stations, however in 2018 the government began allowing individual farmers the ability to obtain export licenses. OCR builds direct relationships with the best of these producers to increase transparency and ensures all premium payments are reaching the hands of producers.