Banko Gotiti

Banko Gotiti, a small municipality nestled on the eastern edge of the Gedeb District, part of the highly sought-after Gedeo zone, is home to quality-focused farmers who cultivate what was once more commonly referred to as “Yirgacheffe” coffees. Gedeb, a remote area renowned for producing some of the world’s most exquisite and floral washed coffees, boasts the contributions of 410 smallholder farmers to the Worka Sakaro Washing Station, named after the municipality where it is located. Established in 2011 by Mijane Woresa, the washing station initially served as a platform for selling his coffee through the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX) until 2017 when he secured an export license for himself. Today, his son Daneil Mijane takes over the station, maintaining a meticulous focus on quality. The Mijane family collaborates closely with farmers whose farm sizes span from 1 to 10 hectares. They provide harvest training and establish seasonal cherry collection sites to minimize overland travel for farmers and establish a quality inspection point. Coffee is not admitted to the washing station until it undergoes a meticulous inspection for uniform ripeness and overall quality. Subsequently, it undergoes depulping, fermentation for approximately 48 hours, washing, and drying in the shade until it is completely dry to the touch. Finally, it is moved to raised drying beds where it undergoes continuous rotation and aeration for a week, accompanied by coverage during the hottest hours of the day. As a terroir, the Gedeo zone is celebrated for producing elegant and complex arabica coffees, and the smaller Gedeb district has earned a unique sub-label in its own right, thanks to the rise of quality-focused farmers and independent processors like the Mijane family. This particular coffee stands as a testament to the beauty of washed coffees from Gedeb, exhibiting a delightful array of tasting notes including lemon lime soda, apple blossom, violet, jasmine, and apricot. It boasts a crisp, sparkling, and silky texture.