Lalesa Natural Yirgacheffe

The Lalesa Washing Station in Gedeb is owned and run by Ephtah and is the largest drying and washing site in the region with over 400 African beds and 900 contributing farmers who grow heirloom varietals at 2150masl organically.

The coffee is naturally grown under shade trees, primarily Ensete (false banana tree). The best cherries are bought from nearby farmers. Coffee is initially floated to remove low density seeds, then placed on drying beds for 12-15 days. The parchment is sorted by hand by local women before prepping for export.