Basha and his father, both dedicated community leaders, built a church on their land in Bombe to serve the people of the community. Before smallholders were granted export licenses, Basha’s father managed a cooperative that supplied coffee to the Sidama Union. They sold their cherries through collective channels. Today, Basha carries on his father’s legacy with his own export license. He cultivates coffee on 12 hectares of semi-forested land, primarily growing the 74158 variety, locally known as “Walega.” Basha operates cherry collection sites in Bombe, Shantawane, and Kokose, sourcing from producers farming at altitudes up to 2300 masl. Despite the high cherry prices this season, Basha went above and beyond by issuing a second payment to the 126 producers he worked with. This was an uncommon but deeply appreciated gesture of fairness and respect. Basha exclusively produces natural (dry) processed coffees, including innovative anaerobic fermentations. He practices meticulous cherry flotation and slow drying on raised beds, with some lots dried under shade to preserve complexity and nuance. We are proud to celebrate Basha Bekele’s remarkable achievement: winning the 2024 Ethiopian Cup of Excellence. This is our first purchase from Basha, and we couldn’t be more honoured to share this beautiful coffee with you.