Gora Kone

The story

Gora Kone is a washing station located in the Nensebo district of West Arsi, Oromia, near the village of Werka. It serves as a central processing hub for 700 to 1,000 smallholder farmers who typically cultivate coffee on small plots of land averaging less than 4 hectares. The station plays a vital role in the region, as most local farmers lack the equipment necessary to process washed coffees at home.

Challenges

The region features steep terrain that can make agricultural operations difficult. Additionally, most local producers operate on a small scale and lack the infrastructure to process their own coffee cherries.

Innovations

The washing station utilizes natural shade provided by native trees such as acacia and wanza to protect coffee crops. Processing at the station includes a 42–46 hour fermentation period followed by a final rinse using water sourced from the Gerenbicho River.