ETHIOPIA YIRGACHEFFE

ALEMAYEHU DANIEL PRODUCER

The story begins in 1961 Alemayehu's father, Daniel Miju, left Sidamo and wandered into the lush forests around Worka Chalbesa near Gedeb in search of his fortune. As a young man, Daniel Miju built his coffee and false banana farm. Daniel left his lands to his sons when he reached an advanced age; one of them Alemayehu Daniel.

One of the great doubts that arises for Alemayehu is to carry the name of his father and his legacy. His father's lands have been divided for each son receiving just over 10 ha. Here, on land with good irrigation and shade from the trees, Alemayehu grows some of the best coffee you can find in Gedeb.

THE LEGACY OF DANIEL MIJU AND THE ESTATE OF ALEMAYEHU DANIEL

When Daniel Miju divided the land with his sons, he gave each one a few seedlings so they could start growing their own coffee. It is where Alemayehu's coffee comes from.

Alemayehu's family stays together, although each brother has his farm and his crop, they all work together even taking turns tending each other's coffees – especially important when the cherries have already been picked and are drying up. 

ALEMAYEHU DANIEL'S ESTATE

During the harvest, Alemayehu hires 40-60 pickers to ensure that the ripe cherries are picked on time. They wash and once the cherry is dry he takes it to Gedeb.

His coffee tried to find a market through a union, but the export license has since been taken out. This is the second year that he has worked under his own license. In addition, it has won government recognition for the quality of its coffee.

AUCTION COFFEE

In 2018 one of their lots was sold via Operation Cherry Red Auction , and an achievement the family was thrilled with.

“This gives me the opportunity to give my family a better education and still be able to buy a car and a house in Dilla. I can grow my farm and carry my father's name” Alemayehu Daniel

HIGHER PREMIUM FOR A BETTER LIFE

Alemayehu spends a large amount of money helping out temporarily during the harvest season, taking the coffee to Gedeb, cleaning the coffee and taking it to Addis Ababa – from where its flavors go out into the world.

THE FAMILY

“I can't live without her” says Alemayehu about his wife, she prepares meals for all the workers during the harvest season and looks after the farm when Alemayehu is traveling to Addis Ababa.

She is also in charge of preparing the organic compost for the coffee trees. They are the parents of eight – six boys and two girls. “It's not going backwards, just forwards,” he says.

Producer: Alemayehu Daniel

Region: Yirgacheffe

Altitude: 2050-2110 masl

Variety: Heirloom

Process: Natural

A complex cup, which reminds us of notes of strawberry, tangerine, flowers and citrus.