Ethiopia Tarekegn Hatiso

Information

Karamo Village benefits from a unique microclimate. The higher elevation delays the harvest season compared to other regions, allowing the coffee cherries to ripen slowly and develop complex, nuanced flavours.

Around 350 smallholder farmers deliver their cherries to the local coffee station, each cultivating an average farm size of 2.5 hectares. Farmers select the nearest collection point or station based on their farm’s location, selling their cherries directly. Upon delivery, the cherries undergo additional sorting, and the quantity of ripe cherries is recorded for fair payment. After sorting, the cherries are transported to raised drying beds, where only ripe cherries are spread out. Workers move them by hand at regular intervals to prevent spoilage and over-fermentation. During peak harvest, cherries arrive almost daily and are shifted between beds based on their drying progress.