Building Direct Connections with Ethiopia’s Coffee Farmers
For years, Ethiopia’s legendary coffee origins were locked behind a wall of bureaucracy. The Ethiopian government’s coffee and tea authority controlled pricing and exports, leaving buyers like us with no way to trace coffee back to the farmers who grew it. That lack of transparency always deterred us — how could we truly support producers or champion their craft without even knowing who they were?
Everything changed in 2017, when the rules opened up. Farmers were suddenly able to obtain export licenses. We jumped in immediately, determined to create direct connections with producers and bring traceability to some of the best coffee in the world.
From Middlemen to Meaningful Partnerships
What we’ve found has been incredible. During visits to farms in one of the most famous coffee municipalities, Worka Sakaro, growers tell us, “You’re the first buyer we’ve ever met.” That’s heartbreaking — and it shows just how disconnected the traditional coffee export system is. Too many middlemen drive up prices for consumers while keeping farmers in the dark about what their coffee is worth. By working directly with the actual producers, we ensure those prices — and profits — reach the hands that matter.
We partnered with a local team that built an innovative app where farmers can showcase their coffees. We’ve encouraged producers we meet to join the platform, giving them direct access to buyers like us.
Cafe Kreyol has also contracted this team to monitor quality control through our lab in Addis Ababa, staffed with licensed Q Graders. Every coffee is scored, graded, and evaluated to highlight its unique profile and ensure it meets our very highest standards.
Dynamic Coffees That Defy Expectations
Many coffee drinkers associate Ethiopia with Yirgacheffe’s classic floral and citrus notes. But we’ve discovered something deeper. The regions are evolving — Sidama, for example, no longer has the distinct blueberry notes it’s famous for.
So instead of chasing outdated labels, we’re celebrating these shifting profiles with two stunning offerings: Sweet Lily™ Floral and Sweet Lily™ Fruity. Both are available for purchase green, and our Sweet Lily™ light roast kicks the door down with delightful notes of jasmine and rose — which may be why it won the 2022 Golden Bean Bronze Medal!
Taste the Next Chapter of Ethiopian Coffee
By building direct trade relationships, we’re doing more than sourcing exceptional coffees — we’re giving farmers the transparency, respect, and fair pay they deserve. And in return, they’re producing some of the most dynamic, traceable, and high-quality Ethiopian coffees we’ve ever tasted.
Experience the difference in our Sweet Lily™ Floral and Sweet Lily™ Fruity. Once you taste them, you’ll never look at Ethiopian coffee the same way again.
Keep Hunting,
Joseph Stazzone, President and Founder
