Ethiopia – Lalesa

The station and processing story

Lalesa is the largest washing and drying station in Gedeb, employing up to 250 seasonal workers during harvest. It’s operated by Ephtah Specialty Coffee under the leadership of Wubit Bekele, a company that champions transparency, women’s roles in the coffee chain, and local community development. Right at the station, they’ve established a daycare where female workers can leave their children, and women also craft traditional baskets that are sold beyond the station. We saw all these projects firsthand during our visit, and witnessed that behind great coffee stands a genuine impact.

The cherries come from smallholder farmers in the surrounding area, who grow their trees under Ensete (false banana) shade. Once harvested, the cherries are carefully hand-sorted, float-graded (a process where cherries are submerged in water to separate ripe ones from unripe or damaged ones), and then dried for 12–15 days on raised beds.

Social and environmental impact

Ephtah supports its producer network through upfront payments, quality-based premiums, and educational assistance for farmers’ children. Future investments include new water tanks, expanding drying capacity, and cultivating additional food crops to support the local economy.

Variety

This coffee comes from traditional Ethiopian heirloom varieties — a diverse group of indigenous cultivars and locally selected strains that have naturally adapted to the region over generations. These varieties thrive in the high altitudes of Gedeb and are known for their complexity, floral aromatics, and juicy fruit character, all hallmarks of top-tier naturally processed Ethiopian coffees.