With his family’s help, Adam Banata cultivates coffee on his small 4-hectare farm in Nensebo, West Arsi. Until recently, coffees from West Arsi were sold as Sidamo or Harrar, but when the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX) designated West Arsi as a unique coffee growing origin, the wider world was able to see how special these coffees really are. 4 of the top 10 coffees in the inaugural Ethiopian Cup of Excellence competition came from West Arsi.
Adam’s farm sits at a staggering 2,000+ masl, on which he grows a range of varieties developed by the Jimma Agricultural Research Center (JARC). The JARC is responsible for developing many of the varieties that flourish across Ethiopia today.
Focusing on growing exceptional naturally processed coffees, Adam doesn’t use chemical pesticides or fertilizers, and is organic-by-default. This coffee is loud and fruity, with notes of cherry, blackcurrant, and tropical fruit.