Hello everyone! We’ve just recently had some very exciting times in Africa, with so much to look forward to this harvest and some community work updates from Masina, Guji.

Harvest is in full swing and early indicative samples are already beginning to come in. Coffees are looking amazing and initial samples are tasting great. 

Coffee Sourcing Updates

Expect to see coffees from all the usual Project Origin favourites:

        Yirgacheffe – Konga, Aricha, Haru Suke, Hafursa, Kochere and Kedido

        Sidamo – Chire, Bulga, Nansebo and Ato Girma.

        Guji – Muje Masina (formerly ZB) and Uraga and Wush Wush in Keffa.

For anyone planning ahead we are now taking expressions of interest for Ethiopian coffees for next harvest. If there is something you need sourced for you get in touch and let us know so we can source options that suit your profile and price point.

Or, better yet, come with us and select the coffee yourself! We will return to Ethiopia early in Feb 2020 and will be selecting coffees for the year including Naturals G1, G2 and G3 and Washed G1 and G2, alongside CMs and supernaturals. By joining us in this trip you will have access to PO coffees before anyone else so it’s a great way to secure exactly what you need and get first pick.

Remember booking coffees early is always cheaper so don’t wait if you want full access to all the options at the best prices.

Get in touch if you want to travel with us or want us to source specifically for you.

Community Work Updates

We’re so happy to say the water well construction in Masina town was completed in November. In the Sodu village, Masina town the well services about 1000 people from Sodu and surrounding villages in the area.

Previously only spring water was available which was hard to collect in water containers and often not very clean. The well is secured to ensure it lasts many years and the local townspeople have assigned a specific person to open access to the well at 4pm everyday ensuring it is available to all in the community to use.

The funds for the well came from our Community Fund so every roaster that has bought coffee from Project Origin (from any origin) this year has contributed to this project coming to life and supporting the people of Masina.

This year we also funded the construction of four large shade drying tents at the Muje Masina washing station (formerly called ZB Masina) and donated these to the station on behalf of four clients that have been huge supporters specifically of Project Origin’s Ethiopian coffees. We thank Espresso Lab (UAE), Honey Coffee (Japan), ONA Coffee and Symmetry Roasters (Australia) for their long term support.

These tents will be used to control drying methods and create unique experiences from Masina in addition to the CM Selections range that already comes from here. Look out for them in 2020.

Speaking of CM Selections, we’re set for a 3rd year of Ethiopian magic. The PO team have reviewed months of cupping results and feedback from partners across the globe and worked with the teams at Muje and Kochere to refine the processing behind the lots being created this harvest. Expect your usual favourites as well as some new little gems we’ve never released before.

To top it off, we’ve added Uraga Gomoro to the washing stations that will be creating coffees for the CM Selections range. After the successes of their supernaturals and honeys from 2019 we were keen to partner further with them and production of more honeys, supernaturals and CMs are all underway.

We look forward to sharing more exciting news with you in the coming months. Stay caffeinated!

Habib