About the Producer

Guji, perched in the southern Ethiopian highlands, is a hidden gem within the legendary Rift Valley, alongside Yirgacheffe and Sidamo—two of the most celebrated coffee regions in the world. This lot hails from the village of Suke Quto, where the cherries are processed at Sookoo Coffee’s station, founded by the visionary Ture Waji in 2017.

Since then, Sookoo has risen to fame, becoming one of Guji’s premier producers of naturally processed coffee, famed for its vibrant flavors and rich heritage. In Ethiopia, where coffee grows semi-wild in lush forests, small farmers harvest from trees that thrive in these high-altitude ecosystems, creating the exceptional coffees the country is known for.

However, the future of Ethiopian coffee is under threat from deforestation and unpredictable market shifts. Many farmers, facing economic challenges, are replacing coffee trees with fast-growing eucalyptus, which is draining the land of vital nutrients and water. Despite these challenges, places like the Suke Quto Washing Station remain dedicated to traditional, sustainable methods. Coffees are fermented in tanks for up to 48 hours, while natural varieties are dried on raised beds for up to 15 days, preserving the integrity of these time-honored processes.

Guji’s connection to coffee runs deep in the culture of the Oromo people, who have cultivated the crop for centuries. While the story of Kaldi the goatherder is often told as the origin of coffee, the Oromo have their own captivating legends. Officially recognized as a unique coffee-producing region in 2002, Guji has set itself apart with its traditional farming practices, organic-by-default methods, and distinct microclimates. Today, Guji coffee is celebrated worldwide for its bold character and unrivaled quality.