This exceptional coffee is exported through Asnakech Thomas, one of Ethiopia’s few women miller/exporters (if not the only one). In 2005, Asnakech returned to Ethiopia and her home region of Amaro to help improve the quality of coffee and living conditions in her community.

The Amaro Mountains are a small range separating the communities of Amaro, to the east, and the Nechisar National Park and lowland tribal areas of Arba Minch, in southwestern Sidamo. Local coffee varieties, a relatively light population, waterfalls and highland bamboo forests add to the area’s beauty and uniqueness.

On Asnakech’s farm, also called Amaro, coffee is scrupulously harvested, sorted and then milled at on-site wet and dry mills, giving her remarkable control over production. In addition to her own harvest, local growers bring their freshly picked cherry for processing. It’s said that everyone is very clear about Asnakech’s strict standards and that she will only accept red, ripe cherry.

Cherries are dried on raised beds, eliminating contact with the soil and resulting in a much cleaner coffee. The raised beds also provide even aeration, in which the air can reach the bean from above and below and result is more a consistent quality and flavor profile.

InterAmerican is proud to offer both washed and natural organic coffees from Asnakech and her mill.

Farmer training

The Amaro farm is involved in training farmers in the area to increase their yields and quality. It has also set up a women-in-coffee association—the first organization of its kind in the area.

The farm has also created and sponsored the Amaro Gayo Football Team, a junior soccer football team for the youth in the area, and funds the purchase of books and laptops in neighboring schools.

Realizing the gravity of climate change and its impact on the surrounding regions, the Amaro farm also took the initiative of encouraging farmers to plant more trees and is paying incentives for every tree planted.

Cupping notes: Strawberry, fig, sweet notes, complex, nuanced florals; creamy body, excellent balance.