Ethiopia Musa Abalulesa - Wholesale Grocery

We Taste:  melon - dried apricot - vanilla bean - rooibos tea

Medium-Light Roast

DOWNLOAD info sheets DOWNLOAD shelf tags

Please submit orders by 2:00 p.m. central time on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday for roast and ship on the following business day. Thank you!

FROM GUERILLA HIDEOUT TO COFFEE FARM: MUSA ABALULESA’S COFFEE HERITAGE

The story of Musa Abalulesa coffee business, like many others in Ethiopia, is closely tied to political upheaval and guerilla warfare dating back more than 50 years. Their guerilla father Abalulesa had a bounty placed on him by the communist Derg regime. After his death, when Musa was only 2, the family was awarded amnesty and land, which is now Musa’s coffee farm. 

Musa and his two brothers operate their own small farms in Gomma. He purchases and processes coffee cherry from 21 nearby smallholders in addition to his own. He farms organically and incorporates honey bees and crops like avocados. Musa and his brother Mustefa produce seeds to supply government seed banks. This diversification is important for his farm and livelihood.

It is difficult to maintain traceability on small farms in Ethiopia and direct market access for growers is rare. In 2006, Musa won a government competition and was awarded a hand pulper and cash, which he used to expand his farm. He found success in direct markets. However in 2008, the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange forced producers to sell to commercial markets for lower prices. Eight years later, export policy changes allowed direct market access again. Musa benefits from higher premiums which he is reinvesting in farm improvements like new seed-stock, shade structures, and additional drying beds.

This coffee is unique on our menu - we haven’t had many offerings from this area of the country. Jimma is known as the origin of the coffee species. This lot from Musa Abalulesa is comprised of specific JARC (Jimma Agricultural Research Centre) variety selections which are improved cultivars developed from local and regional heirlooms. Our flavor notes from Musa Abalulesa’s coffee are pleasantly earthy with delicate floral and tea-like notes, combined with spicy sweetness, dried fruit, and citrus.

Sourced from the Gomma region of Ethiopia, this lot is produced by Musa Abalulesa and roasted by Ruby Coffee Roasters. The coffee undergoes a washed process, a method typically employed to highlight the inherent clarity and acidity of the bean. In the cup, this specific selection presents a nuanced profile featuring notes of melon, dried apricot, vanilla bean, and rooibos tea.

Washed coffees from this region are often celebrated for their clean, tea-like elegance and bright, structured profiles. Because flavor perception can be subjective, exploring these descriptors alongside a flavor wheel can help identify the subtle interplay between the fruit-forward melon and apricot notes and the delicate, herbal finish of the rooibos. This offering serves as a refined example of the meticulous processing standards maintained by producers in Gomma, showcasing how traditional techniques can elevate the distinct characteristics of Ethiopian heirloom varieties.