Ethiopia Bookkissa Natural Filter - Single Origin.

The Sawana drying station, located in the hills of Shakiso in Ethiopia’s Guji zone, was established in 2022 to improve processing capacity and quality control for local communities. Before its construction, cherries from Bookkisa and Shoondhisa were processed together at a single station. Sawana now sources cherries from about 30 smallholder farmers to produce distinct, traceable lots of coffee.

Ethiopian coffee production operates on a very different scale from Latin America. Instead of large estates, most growers manage small garden plots where coffee grows alongside food crops such as maize or enset. The average Ethiopian farm covers around 2.5 hectares; slightly larger than Colombia’s average but planting density is considerably lower. Many farms exist in semi-forested systems with naturally low yields and high biodiversity.

Ethiopia’s national yield averages only 0.8 kilograms of cherry per tree each year, reflecting both limited agricultural inputs and the prevalence of traditional, organic farming methods. All coffee delivered to the Sawana station is organically grown, although not always through formal certification. This low-input, shade-based system preserves soil health and native biodiversity while producing complex, distinctive coffees that reflect Guji’s natural ecosystems and smallholder-driven production model.

PROCESS: WASHED

REGION: SHAKISSO, GUJI

ELEVATION: 2000 - 2150M

VARIETAL: GIBIRINNA 74110, SERTO 74112

CUP: CITRUS, BERRIES, CHOCOLATE, NUTS

ROAST: FILTER