Suke Quto Washed

Aromas of cane sugar, clementine, and allspice introduce this soft cup. Notes of honeydew and caramel accompany clementine acidity, with lemon verbena and Swiss chocolate emerging in the finish.

Details

Producer: Ato Tesfaye Bekele Farm: Suke Quto Region: Guji Zone Altitude: 1,800-2,200 masl | 5,906-7,218 feet Varietal: Kurume, Welicho Process: Washed Roast: Light-Medium Notes: Clementine, Cane Sugar, Lemon Verbena

The Story

We have a limited quantity of this coffee from Ato Tesfaye Bekele, one of the people who put Guji specialty coffee on the map.

From 1997 to 1999 bushfires destroyed 5,000 forest acres in Guji. With a job in Natural Resource and Environmental Protection for the Ethiopian government, Tesfaye was responsible for rebuilding and finding new ways to conserve the area.

“After the fires, locals returned to the deforested lands to change these into agricultural fields. They started to produce teff and maize.” Tesfaye could not stop people from returning to rebuild their livelihoods, but he could provide an alternative. “I came up with the idea to replant the forests and also add coffee trees to enhance diversity.”

Tesfaye rented a truck and distributed coffee seedlings among the community. “People started to ask me how long it would take before this crop starts to yield cherries. I answered, ‘four to five years’. They gave the seedlings back to me after hearing this." Disappointed by this lack of faith, Tesfaye reserved a small piece of land and started a coffee seedling nursery with government money.

Tesfaye appointed several managers to overlook the nursery, but all found the job unappealing because of years without tangible results. So he resigned from his job and became a full-time coffee farmer. After his first harvest, the community that first rejected the idea returned to Tesfaye. “I am very proud of this idea because all the farms you see today in Guji are inspired by Suke Quto Farm.”

Tesfaye focuses on environmentally-friendly coffee and on the economic growth of the community. Suke Quto washing station collects cherries from 171 neighboring outgrowers and generates 200 seasonal jobs. He has also initiated the Suke Quto School Project, which has built and expanded two schools, added concrete floors and bathrooms, and more.

Sourced from the Guji Zone of Ethiopia, the Suke Quto Washed is a standout offering from PT's Coffee Roasting. Produced by Ato Tesfaye Bekele, this lot features the Kurume varietal, which is cultivated at elevations ranging from 1800 to 2200 meters above sea level. By utilizing a washed processing method, the producer emphasizes the inherent clarity and brightness of the bean, resulting in a cup profile defined by notes of clementine, cane sugar, and lemon verbena.

Washed coffees from this region are frequently celebrated for their vibrant acidity and clean, tea-like finish. When evaluating such nuanced profiles, tasters often reference the flavor wheel to identify the delicate interplay between citrus-forward aromatics and the underlying sweetness of the cane sugar. This specific selection highlights the meticulous care taken by Ato Tesfaye Bekele to showcase the distinct character of the Guji terroir.