Zakir Haji Aba Milki (Bashasha Smallholders) Djimma Natural

Thanks to the Bashasha Project, producer Zakir Haji Aba Milki has been able to export and sell his coffee under his own name. While higher prices are a definite incentive for increasing quality, Zakir, like many others, is motivated by pride in his coffee and in his country’s role as producers—and consumers—of high-quality coffees.

Zakir’s farm is small, but is still relatively large by Ethiopian standards. His 7 hectares feature a number of coffee varieties, all of which he cares for carefully. Many of the methods he uses are organic by default, as agricultural inputs have historically been hard to access.

After selective handpicking, Zakir lays his cherry to sundry on raised drying beds. He turns them repeatedly throughout the day to ensure even drying. Cherry dries for approximately 15 to 20 days, depending on the weather.

Due to recent changes in regulation, even the little guys can directly export their coffee to foreign markets. With Ethiopia’s staggering levels of variety diversity, we believe that amazing new coffees are just waiting to be discovered. 

The Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX) was established in 2008 as a way to help farmers receive higher prices, get paid more quickly and receive better payment for better quality. To accomplish these goals, the ECX was intentionally designed to semi-anonymize coffees so that those who graded and those who purchased the coffees, did so on the merit of the cup not the reputation of the name.  

In response to the demand for more traceable coffee, the Ethiopian Coffee & Tea Development and Marketing Authority introduced a bill in 2017 that allowed Ethiopian coffee, including coffee sold through the ECX, to be marketed and sold with full traceability. 

The 2017 changes to the ECX regulations gave farmers a chance to apply for export licenses. With these export licenses, farmers can now process, market and export their coffee directly. This system places an emphasis on preserving traceability for each producer’s lots throughout the supply chain. It also means that farmers have more choice and more control over the price they receive. Finally, it provides incentives for farmers who are geared towards quality, benefitting all actors in the supply chain.  

These new laws are giving us a unique opportunity to increase our traceability all while supporting great coffee farmers. We’ve partnered with farmers in Bashasha, a small town in the Agaro Zone of Western Ethiopia, to bring you a selection of Naturals and Fully washed coffees that can be traced all the way to the farmers themselves.