The Alemu Adama wet and dry mill station, located in Sidama’s Bensa Woreda (Abay Teka district), is known for producing exceptional washed and natural coffees while supporting its community. The station employs 5 permanent staff, 120 seasonal workers, and works with 350 local farmers.
For their natural coffees, only ripe red cherries are carefully selected and dried on raised beds for 12–15 days. Rigorous quality control ensures that only vibrant red cherries make the cut, with close monitoring at every stage of processing. Sustainability here is also central, with farmers and staff receiving training on forest protection, water conservation, waste management, and fair labour practices.
Beyond coffee, the station invests in its community by helping fund health insurance for low-income families, building roads, and improving spring water access- ensuring great coffee goes hand-in-hand with lasting local benefits.
Naturally processed coffee from Guji is famed for its big, sweet red fruit notes- and even as a decaf, this one delivers without compromise.
Expect strawberry sweetness and aroma, pineapple-like sparkle and acidity, all rounded off with a brown, syrupy mouthfeel. This Ethiopian decaf offers all the pleasure, with none of the pain.
Sugarcane Decaf process:
First, the green coffee beans are gently steamed, opening up their structure and making them more porous. This softens the bond between the caffeine and the bean, setting the stage for decaffeination.
Next, the beans are soaked in a solution of water and ethyl acetate- a naturally derived compound from fermented sugarcane. This solution selectively binds to the caffeine, drawing it out of the beans. The solution is refreshed, and the process is repeated until 97% of the caffeine is removed.
Once the caffeine is gone, the beans are given a final steam bath to ensure they’re clean and pristine. They’re then carefully dried to restore their original moisture content, ready for roasting.
The result? A smooth, flavourful decaf coffee that delivers all the taste and character of its caffeinated cousins- without the buzz!
