The Story of Ethiopian Sun-Dried Yirgacheffe Wotto Coffee Beans - The Mystery of the Aya Coffee Bean Varieties

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Ethiopian Coffee Yirgacheffe

Yirgacheffe comes from the Oromia Coffee Farmers Co-operative Union (OCFCU) in Ethiopia. Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee, where more than 1.2 million farmers and 15 million families rely on coffee for their livelihood. Coffee exports account for over 65% of Ethiopia's total export volume.

However, coffee prices are always determined by the trading markets in New York and London, not by coffee farmers. Before 1989, the minimum purchase price for coffee was set by the International Coffee Organization, requiring agreement between producing and purchasing countries. But when the International Coffee Agreement collapsed in 1989, coffee prices fell continuously for 30 years, plunging global coffee producers into absolute poverty.

OCFCU is Ethiopia's largest fair trade coffee producer, established in June 1999 by 35 small farmer cooperatives with 23,691 coffee farmers. Its purpose was to unite the strength of small farmers to survive in harsh market conditions, with 7,107 producers already having fair trade certification.

In the local Oromia region, approximately 630,000 people depend on coffee for their livelihood. The coffee beans they produce sell for about 15 pounds per kilogram in Western countries (currently about 250 yuan), but producers receive only 0.05 pounds (about 0.5 yuan). For most families, this income keeps them in poverty, without nutritious food, clean water, clothing, household electricity, and children's education.

A coffee farmer from the Oromia cooperative said: "Our problem is that when our coffee is ready for harvest and sale, someone comes into our fields and says: 0.75 birr per kilogram (0.05 pounds), take it or leave it. We have no room to bargain; it's entirely decided by one person. We used to buy clothes and food with the income from growing coffee, but now it's difficult to sustain our family's livelihood."

Tadesse Meskela (the cooperative's manager) said: "The only goal is to get money into the pockets of coffee farmers and improve farmers' lives." But the cooperative does not force coffee farmers to sell their coffee to the cooperative, so the cooperative's success is entirely due to providing fair prices to members.

Since 2001, the Oromia cooperative has grown from 34 small cooperatives to 101, with membership increasing from 22,500 to 75,000 (fair trade cooperatives don't always have smooth sailing; their numbers fluctuate during development). During the same period, surplus grew from 289,000 birr (about 870,000 Taiwan dollars today) to 6.9 million birr (about 20.26 million Taiwan dollars today). The initial investment was 825,000 birr, and today the investment scale has reached 17.4 million birr. In just six years, the cooperative's operating scale has grown 2,100 times, but all achievements belong to the small farmers.

70% of sales and export revenue goes to 74 cooperatives, where small farmers invest fair trade surpluses in improving production capacity and equipment. The remaining 30% is used to enhance production, serve as emergency funds for lean years, or for community development. Another form of support from the cooperative to farmers is manifested in the "Community Improvement Program." The cooperative spent 2.7 million birr (about 8.25 million Taiwan dollars today) on the "Community Improvement Program," with actual results including the construction of 4 schools and 25 classrooms, allowing more than 5,000 children to receive education. Clean water systems were established in 3 villages, finally ending the tragedy of dirty water sources causing over 3,000 deaths and bidding farewell to infectious diseases and deaths caused by unclean water sources. Additionally, 4 new medical clinics were built, treating over 6,000 patients annually and reducing their waiting time for treatment.

(Children from the Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative are studying at school)

(Schools built with fair trade community development funds)

(The Oromia Cooperative used feedback funds from fair trade roasters to improve water supply systems, establishing clean water sources for coffee farmers)

Small farmer cooperation and resource sharing have expanded their impact. The development of the cooperative not only benefits individual small farmers but also the entire community.

Tadesse Meskela said that the most important impact of the cooperative is reflected in prices. When international coffee prices plummeted in 2002/3, the cooperative still provided farmers with prices 250%-300% higher than multinational corporations. Even now, the price given to farmers is still 80%-100% higher. This means: small farmers have the ability to send their children to school and buy them clean clothes. Small farmers' houses can be repaired to be more sturdy. Every bit of income received leads both families and communities upward, away from poverty.

For Tadesse Meskela, trade is far more helpful for development than aid. He said: "If you give me money to buy food today, I'll have to ask you again tomorrow... Invest in my production tools, and I won't need to ask you for money again." Today's society certainly has the capacity to provide better aid, but the Oromia case serves as a model for over 8 million cooperatives worldwide: they are also empowering their members to work their way out of poverty. Perhaps now is the time to let the world see their value. Ethiopia has always had the stereotype of poverty among people, and the success of the Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative has become an important example of the positive impact of the fair trade movement, even becoming the protagonist and setting of the movie "Black Gold."

Coffee Flavor Profile

This Ethiopian Yirgacheffe coffee from FrontStreet Coffee comes from the Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative and has organic certification from the UK Soil Association. It grows in mountainous areas at altitudes of 1,500-2,000 meters and has a G2 grade (G1 is very rare, G2 is already an excellent grade). The raw beans are emerald green in color, with an elegant slender shape and clear crisp sound when struck. After brewing, the liquid is smooth as silk, with rich floral and citrus aromas. The nasal aroma is persistent, with subtle herbal and caramel notes. It has high sweetness, with acidity that is distinct but gentle, and an uplifting, long-lasting finish. To satisfy the palates of connoisseurs, both light roast and medium roast are available. The light roast has more pronounced acidity and richer layers, while the medium roast emphasizes sweetness. It's a matter of personal preference, with no good or bad choice. It's best to make reservations in advance to avoid disappointment. Ethiopian Yirgacheffe costs 85 yuan per 227g package.

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