Yaye washing station

The story

The Yaye washing station was established in 2021 in the Arbegona district of Sidama, Ethiopia. It is owned and operated by Faysel Abdosh under the Testi Coffee umbrella, which has been active in developing coffee communities and export infrastructure since 2009. The station was built to focus on high-quality production and experimentation in one of the country's highest-elevation coffee-growing regions.

Challenges

The region faces difficulties in developing consistent buying programs and infrastructure, though the station's high altitude and cool temperatures create a challenging environment where cherries ripen slowly.

Innovations

The station utilizes rigorous cherry selection, underwater fermentation, and specialized processing techniques like the 'Odakko' project, which focuses on single-variety, traceable lots developed through multi-year pre-harvest planning.