Ethiopia Liyu Guji

Ethiopia is world-renowned as the birthplace of coffee. Legend has it that in the tenth century, an Ethiopian shepherd was the first to recognise coffee’s stimulating effects after his hillside flock ate the cherries of a coffee tree. Ethiopia has a population of almost 75 million, 15 million of whom rely on coffee production in some way for their livelihood. The country boasts around 400,000 hectares of coffee growing land and agriculture forms the basis of Ethiopia’s economy – coffee is the most important export. Approximately 98% of coffee is produced on small farms and micro lots and has been part of indigenous cultural traditions for over 10 generations. Ethiopian coffee is considered by many to be the best in the world, grown with exceptional passion and care and celebrated through wonderful traditions.

This coffee comes from the Sidama zone in the region of Oromia in southern Ethiopia. Guji is a relatively remote district found in East Sidamo and was named after one of the tribes of the Oromo people. More than any other country, Ethiopia has a broad genetic diversity among its coffee varieties, with each type having distinctive taste, shape and colour. As a result, each region in the country can offer a different flavour profile, forming the grading system for Ethiopian coffees e.g. Sidamo, Harrar, Limu, Djimmah etc. Guji coffee is well known for its complex floral aroma and citrus notes. Processing in Guji can take the form of both washed and natural, with most of the coffee growing at over 2,000 metres above sea level. Much of the coffee grown in Ethiopia is done so using traditional methods, under shade trees alongside other crops and without the use of chemicals. It is grown by smallholders, who often have just 1-2 hectares of coffee growing in their back garden. Coffee in Ethiopia has been traded on the Ethiopia Commodity Exchange since 2008. The ECX was established to create a new market place which served the needs of all of the actors involved in the coffee supply chain, from the farmers to the final consumer. Previously, only a third of all the agricultural products produced in Ethiopia reached the market due to the high costs and risks involved with trading. There was no assurance of product quality

Through the purchase of this coffee, we are supporting the ‘Girls Gotta Run Foundation’. This is a non-profit organisation that empowers girls in Ethiopia through running and education. The UN Population Fund identified that early marriage is the most prevalent factor in cutting short the education of girls across all regions in Ethiopia. Although the government has outlawed marriage before the age of 18, 24% of girls are still taken out of school and married by the age of just 15. While most girls supported by GGRF do not become professional athletes, some do and the training given allows the girls to stay in school and avoid early marriage and pregnancy. In turn, this can enhance their personal economic opportunities and gives them a safe space to develop their sense of community, leaving them better equipped to face the challenges posed to them during their most vulnerable years. So far since 2006, 50 girls have been supported by GGRF and are challenging some of the social and cultural norms in Ethiopia by continuing their education at university. Find out further info here: http://www.girlsgottarun.org/

This coffee has been scored 85.25 on the Q grade scale by our in-house Q grader. This score signifies a EXCELLENT speciality coffee as per the SCAA (Speciality Coffee Association of America) Cupping Protocols.