Lalesa Ephtah

This slow dry natural lot comes from Lalesa, in Gedeb woreda, and is processed at an Ephtah-owned site.  Gedeb is a high-elevation, coffee-dense region with its own distinctive terroir, producing some of Ethiopia’s most vibrant and expressive coffees.  The Lalesa site is owned by Ephtah Specialty Coffee, a newly established, women-led exporter founded by Wubit Bekele.  Ephtah’s mission emphasizes women’s empowerment, community engagement, and quality improvement, seeking to inspire the next generation of female entrepreneurs.

For this slow dry process, the best cherries are purchased from nearby farmers and first floated to remove lower-density cherries and quakers. The coffee is then placed on raised drying beds under a special greenhouse roof, where it dries slowly for around 20 to 25 days. Once dried, the green coffee is handpicked by local women to support quality and consistency.  That slow dry inside the cherry is what builds the deep, sweet fruit that we get from this special coffee.

In this cup we taste Cranberry, sweet Kumquat with a floral finish.

Recommended Rest  | 10+ days from roasting date

Origin | Gedeb, Ethiopia

Process | Slow Dry Natural

Variety | Heirloom Variety

Elevation | 2200 MASL

Roast Level | Light

Bag Size: 8 oz
Grind size: Whole Bean
$19.00
$19.00
Shipping calculated at checkout.

This slow dry natural lot comes from Lalesa, in Gedeb woreda, and is processed at an Ephtah-owned site. Ephtah purchased the land in July 2023, before building the warehouse and drying beds in September 2023. The site sits at approximately 2,150 to 2,200 metres above sea level and is the largest drying site in Gedeb. Coffee in the area is naturally grown under shade trees, mainly Ensete, also known as false banana. The lot is made up of local heirloom cultivars and is harvested between December and January.

Ephtah Specialty Coffee works to build sustainable and collaborative supply chains across Ethiopia, with a focus on quality, long-term relationships and support for producer communities. At Lalesa, farmers receive an initial payment as soon as their coffee is received at the site. Ephtah also supports social initiatives in the area, including a daycare centre for farmers’ children in Gedeb. Some women farmers in the area are part of Ephtah’s Ama Commitment scheme, which supports the role of women in coffee production and producer communities

The Lalesa site covers approximately 3.5 hectares and has around 400 drying beds. It employs seven permanent staff and around 130 seasonal workers during the harvest period. In addition to coffee, farmers in the area also produce Ensete, or false banana, which is an important staple crop in the region.
Lalesa Ephtah

Lalesa Ephtah

$19.00
$19.00