Washed YirgZ

Our relationship with the YirgZ cooperative in Gedeo Zone goes back to 2012. What started as a single container has grown into one of our most reliable and highest-quality partnerships.

The cooperative represents 280 smallholder farmers working between 1,900 and 2,100 meters above sea level. Each farmer cultivates native heirloom varietals on less than 2 hectares, intercropping coffee with enset (false banana) and other shade trees. The washed process here is meticulous: cherries are pulped within hours of harvest, fermented for 36-48 hours in stone tanks, then washed through multiple channels before being dried on raised beds.

Sam visits twice yearly during pre-harvest and harvest seasons. Our Q-grader cups at origin before purchase, and we've established a premium pricing structure that rewards quality—farmers producing lots that score above 87 points receive an additional 20% over market rate. This partnership means when exceptional lots come through processing, we get first call.