Lalesa

Lalesa Washing Station The Lalesa washing station is located in Gedeb, Ethiopia, a region with a population of over 300,000 people. The area is predominantly Christian Protestant, with some Orthodox Christians, and the primary language spoken is Gedeoiniya. The community celebrates its annual New Year's festival on January 18th, and Enset (false banana) is the staple food. The Siqe River forms the border between Gedeo, Guji, and the southern region from Oromia.

Coffee Processing The coffee is grown naturally under shade trees, primarily Ensete (false banana trees). The best cherries are sourced from nearby farmers. The initial process involves floating the cherries in water to remove defective beans, followed by 4 days on drying beds to increase the amount of mucilage on the beans. Subsequently, the coffee is pulped and shade-dried for 18 to 20 days. The Journey to Export Once the coffee is processed and dried, it is stored with Moplaco in Gerji, Addis Ababa. From there, it is transported by train to Djibouti for export. Social and Environmental Impact Ephtah Specialty Coffee is committed to social and environmental projects. The company provides farmers with advance payments upon receipt of their coffee and supports them with quality bonuses, additional payments, and assistance with school fees. Future investment plans include expanding the Ama Commitment program, building a water tank for flotation, increasing the number of drying beds, and cultivating more crops on the land to support local markets.