The Birthplace of Coffee

Ethiopia Green Coffee

Three generations. 75 years in Ethiopian coffee. We're the only Ethiopian-origin importer in the United States—and the complexity of sourcing from Ethiopia is exactly why that matters.

By Samuel Demisse — 3× U.S. Coffee Tasters Champion, Q-Grader, 34 years in specialty coffee

Since 1949 Direct relationships Three trademarks Zero defect pioneer

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Our Heritage

75 years of Ethiopian coffee

In 1949, my father started in Ethiopian coffee. Back then, there were only 13 coffee exporters in all of Ethiopia. Today, there are over 2,500.

When the government changed from capitalism to socialism, they nationalized all private farms—including my father's entire operation. A modern farm with tractors, over 100 employees. They took everything.

He didn't give up. He continued in coffee, now buying from his own former employees who had become farm owners. That resilience—through political upheaval, through industry transformation—is what built this company.

Three generations

1949

Father begins

One of only 13 coffee exporters in Ethiopia

1974

Nationalization

All farms seized. Father continues buying from former employees

1986

Sam joins

34+ years of specialty coffee expertise begins

2009

ARDI trademark

First of three proprietary Ethiopian coffee brands

Why It Matters

Ethiopian coffee has one of the most complex export paths we work in

Ethiopian lots move through dense logistics and approval steps. Local relationships and day-to-day coordination matter as much as cup quality.

Single harvest window

October to February. Miss it and you wait a full year.

Upfront payment required

Always paid in advance. Adds financing cost to every lot.

45-60 days transit

Processing stations far from Addis. Overland to Djibouti. Ocean to US.

Government checkpoints

Multiple quality controls. Export milling takes 2-3 days alone.

Language and culture

Speaking Amharic improves speed and trust during contracts, milling, and shipment changes.

Relationship depth

Many exporter partners have worked with our family for years, which helps resolve issues fast when timing gets tight.

Featured Trademark

ARDI™ — 16 years of consistent excellence

In 2009, I was cupping coffee in my home office when I tasted something exceptional—a sweet, floral revelation unlike anything I'd experienced. At that exact moment, my laptop showed breaking news: the discovery of "Ardi," the oldest human fossil, found in Ethiopia.

I told my wife, "This cup is different. I want to build a coffee name around it." That became ARDI.

The most important thing with ARDI is keeping the flavor profile consistent. It can come from Guji or Sidama—what matters is that it always tastes like ARDI.

The ARDI profile

Clean Strawberry Peach Sweet Finish Floral

→ Always natural process — fruit-forward by design
→ 16 years consistent — same profile, year after year
→ Trademarked 2009 — our flagship Ethiopian coffee

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Processing Matters Most

It's not about region—it's about processing

In most lots we cup, processing method drives flavor more than regional boundary lines. Naturals trend fruit-forward; washed lots trend tea-like and floral.

Natural Process

Coffee dried inside the whole cherry. The fruit ferments around the seed, transferring sugars. Results in bigger body and fruit-forward sweetness.

Flavor profile

Strawberry Peach Blackberry Sweet finish

Our naturals

ARDI™, Wush Wush™, Harrar

Natural Process Guide →

Washed Process

Fruit removed before drying. Fermentation happens in water tanks. Results in cleaner cup, higher clarity, and tea-like delicacy.

Flavor profile

Green tea Bergamot Floral Lemongrass

Our washed

YirgZ™ (zero-defect pioneer), Washed Guji

Washed guide coming soon

Explore Regions

Ethiopian coffee regions

Guji, Sidama, and Yirgacheffe are geographically adjacent—you can put one foot in each. Harrar is the exception: east Ethiopia, different climate, different character entirely.

Guji

Southern Ethiopia

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Home of ARDI. Fruit-forward naturals with clean strawberry, peach, and sweet finish. Adjacent to Sidama—some areas divided only by roads.

Natural Washed

Sidama

Southern Ethiopia

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Balanced profiles with dark chocolate and nut notes. Both natural and washed processing. Original home of ARDI before we expanded sourcing.

Natural Washed Decaf

Yirgacheffe

Southern Ethiopia

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Home of YirgZ—our zero-defect washed trademark. Tea-like delicacy with green tea, bergamot, and lemongrass. The name everyone knows.

Washed

Harrar

Eastern Ethiopia

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The gateway coffee. Completely different from other regions—dry climate, lower elevation. Chocolate, berries, caramel. Ethiopia's historic first export.

Natural

Current Inventory