Odako as a symbol of harmony

Daye Bensa, the export company behind many fine Ethiopian coffees (including our signature Ethiopia Sidamo coffee), runs a special program for high-quality specialty coffee: Gatta Farm.

Gatta Farm is located in the heart of Shantawene Village, in the Sidamo region. The farm is situated at an altitude of 2120-2210 meters above sea level, in the heart of a completely natural forest.

The plantations are surrounded by indigenous trees over 100 years old, waterfalls, and rivers. Sounds like a mystical place! Gatta Farm is named after a waterfall that runs through the farm.

The discovery and development

Before Gatta Farm was discovered by co-founder Mulugeta Dukamo, it was a completely natural forest. In 2012, they planted their first coffee, and in 2017, they established a drying station.

The forest surrounding the farm provided valuable natural shade, and the work is primarily carried out by local residents. Women are primarily involved in quality control, while men perform more labor-intensive tasks.

Since its inception, Gatta Farm has been a huge success in the area, offering more opportunities for well-paid employment. Besides the farm and drying station, Gatta Farm also serves as a training facility for coffee-related education.

Quality management

The coffee we've added to our range, Ethiopia Odako, is a naturally processed coffee. They first float the cherries in special tanks to remove unripe cherries.

Then they're dried on African drying beds. Green berries are removed by hand, and the coffee is turned every 30 (!) minutes to ensure an even process. Talk about quality...

Odako

The name Odako wasn't chosen at random for this coffee. Odako is a tree that serves as a central meeting point for the Shantawene community, where potential conflicts are discussed and resolved. Similar traditions can be found in other parts of Ethiopia.

An eye for the environment

Daye Bensa has always been environmentally conscious, and that's no different at Gatta Farm. After each "washing phase," waste products are properly disposed of and primarily converted into natural fertilizers and compost for further use on the farm.

The preservation of the natural state of the forest is also central and everything is organised around the natural process.

Certifications

In 2020, Daye Bensa received organic certification, enabling it to export fully organic crops. Our import partner, The Coffee Quest, will be closely monitoring these developments. Daye Bensa's other certifications include UTZ and RainForest Alliance.

Have you brought this beauty home yet? We'd love to hear what you think.

If you're curious, the coffee is roasted for slow coffee and has flavor notes of raspberry, cantaloupe, and milk chocolate (and of course, many more flavors that only your mouth can reveal). Find it here !