Organic Ethiopia Yirgacheffe- Oromia Coffee Farmers Coop

Region: Yirgacheffe

Primary Coop: Negeli Gorbitu Cooperative

Coffee Highlights

Unlike the un-washed Sidamo varieties from Ethiopia, these beans are washed.  Meaning, they are hand picked and pulped, promptly fermented, rinsed ("washed"), and then sun-dried. The cup starts with a rounded Meyer lemon-like acidity and moves into a bergamot (Earl Grey) flavor. Sweet, medium body and fruit flavors come together into a buttery finish with floral undertones.  French press and manual pour-over are our preferred methods for capturing the brighter front of this coffee.  At the same time, it is one of our favorites to enjoy at cafes using commercial auto-drip brewers.

Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union - OCFCU

Facts about OCFCU

• Established in 1999
• Membership: 130,000 as of 2008 - 146 cooperatives.
• Regions: Limu, Sidamo, Yirgacheffe, Nekemte, Jimma, Sidamo, Ghimbi, and Harrar
• Website-www.oromiacoffeeunion.org

Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee and yet it remains one of the poorest countries in the world.

It is common for coffee farmers to live a very traditional lifestyle, often farming fewer than five acres and living in basic houses without electricity, running water and indoor plumbing.
 The Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union (OCFCU) is an exporting cooperative with offices in Addis Ababa and affiliated farmer cooperatives located throughout the coffee growing regions of Ethiopia. 
Oromia is a well organized umbrella organization responsible for processing, marketing, and commercializing coffee for its members. OCFCU works exclusively in Oromia Regional State, which accounts for 65 percent of the country’s total coffee growing land.

Of the 146 coops, 28 are Fair Trade certified by the Fairtrade Labeling Organization.

Using revenue derived from the Fair Trade premiums, they have greatly improved local infrastructure in several of the coops by constructing primary schools, health clinics, installing community wells, improving roads and building bridges. Projects aimed at providing clean water supply and stable electricity are ongoing. Oromia now has a cupping lab located at their office and are in the process of constructing a massive central facility for technical, financial, administrative, and laboratory offices as well as final processing and export preparation for all members.

Oromia Union has also created its own members’ bank, which is one of the greatest benefits to members for the much needed pre-harvest financing.

Without this funding, the farmers would be unable to invest the needed money to begin each season, much less for growing and nurturing the coffee. Oromia Union also provides their farmers with insurance options to cover coffee against loss due to extreme weather conditions, health issues or other unforeseen disruptions. The last piece of this relationship is the consumer. Thanks to conscious consumers, the farmers of Oromia Union can count on continuing this tradition of growing exceptional coffee.