Until recently, coffees from the Jimma region have not had any of the reputation or acclaim of their counterparts from more sought-after producing regions of Ethiopia, such as Sidamo or Yirgacheffe. Jimma coffees have normally been naturally processed at a very low quality level, and sold for similarly low prices. This coffee from the Yukro Cooperative is a drastic change from the status quo.

Assisted by TechnoServe -- an NGO working in various African countries -- financing to build washing stations, and training in agronomy and clean coffee processing has seen the four hundred Yukro Cooperative members begin to showcase and unlock the considerable potential of this part of Western Ethiopia’s coffee harvests.

The combination of an increase in agronomical education, processing skills and marketing efforts for their coffee means that the farmers’ reward is being measured in substantial price differentials against their traditional processing and trading approach.

While great progress has been made, with excellent results in the cup, there remains challenges throughout the entire process, perhaps most notably at the dry mill level. We are, of course, very pleased to have secured a small amount of the current harvest to bring to the United Kingdom, and are looking forward to seeing what role we as roasters may be able to play in continuing the development and success of not only the Yukro Cooperative, but others in this region.