Gure Kesso Washed // Jimma, Ethiopia

This lot comes from smallholder producers living in the Gure Kesso kebele, a local administrative ward whose farmers cultivate coffee on small plots before delivering freshly harvested cherry to the nearby Telila washing station.

Telila is owned and operated by Mike Mamo, managing director of Addis Exporter and one of the most experienced figures in modern Ethiopian coffee. As the son of founder and pioneer of Ethiopian coffee export, Mamo Telila, Mike brings decades of institutional knowledge to a new generation of processing. Telila is one of his most focused projects: a privately owned washing station that has earned respect quickly for its rigor, transparency, and consistency. One of Telila’s defining practices is its separation of coffee by kebele upon delivery, an uncommon approach in Ethiopia that allows for tighter geographic distinction and clearer expression of place.

During harvest, producers deliver ripe cherry daily to the station, where each delivery is assessed before processing. Higher-quality cherry is kept separate rather than blended, allowing distinct community lots like Gure Kesso to stand on their own. The coffee is fully washed, with careful attention paid to fermentation timing, washing, and extended drying. Parchment is dried slowly on raised beds, with frequent turning and protection during the hottest parts of the day to ensure stability and uniform moisture content.  This lot is composed of predominantly selections related to 74112, or ’Serto’.

*Orders Roast Tuesday, ship Wednesday.  Order cutoff from same-week fulfillment is Monday at 11:59pm.