Gubata

This coffee is produced by farmers in Gubata Farmers Group working with Ture Waji and his company, Sookoo Coffee. The group and their farms are situated in East Guji, Shakiso Woreda at altitudes exceeding 2,100 meters above sea level. The landscape here is rugged and stunning, with wide swaths of forest and rich, volcanic soil. The high altitude, warm days and cool nights are perfect for growing sweet, dense cherry.

Farming methods in Guji remain largely traditional. Farmers typically intercrop their coffee plants with other food crops, including beans, peas and enset (false banana), which is a staple in the region’s cuisine. This method is common among smallholders because it maximizes land use and provides food for their families.

In addition to being traditionally intercropped, most farms are also organic-by-default. Farmers in Guji typically use very few—if any—fertilizers or pesticides. Most farm work is done manually and very few tasks are mechanized, even during processing.

Farmers in the region often have a mix of local landrace and varieties developed by the Jimma Agricultural Research Center (JARC) planted on their farms. In this case, JARC74110 & 74112 (also known as Gibirinna and Serto), which were uniquely developed for the local terrain, are the most common.

Harvest & Post-Harvest

Due to the size of most plots, coffee is typically handpicked by landowners and their family.

All coffee is selectively hand-harvested before being delivered to Gubata Farm’s washing station. At the station, coffee is sorted to remove damaged or underripe cherry and is then laid on raised beds to dry. Cherry is raked frequently to ensure even drying. It takes approximately 2 to 3 weeks for cherry to dry.

Sookoo Coffee

Sookoo Coffee is a family-owned company led by Ture Waji. Sookoo produces high-quality organic and specialty coffee. Sookoo is named after the Ethiopian word for gold. Like gold, coffee is precious and Sookoo’s name reflects the care and attention they pay to their coffees.

About Guji

Guji coffee has only recently been distinguished from neighboring Sidamo and Yirgacheffe. However, due to their incredible quality and unique profiles, they are quickly gaining international recognition.

The Guji region receives ample rainfall and is marked by steep mountainous terrain: perfect conditions to support the vast array of coffee grown here.

74110

74110 is one of the varieties developed by Jimma Agricultural Research Center (JARC). This variety was selected from trees in the Metu-Bishari forest in the Illubabora region in Oromia. The variety is resistant to coffee berry disease and has a high overall yield. The trees are short and compact and display small leaves and cherry. The variety was released in 1979.