We’re Heading to Ethiopia and Kenya!

Published 10 Jan 2023

We’re starting 2023 off with a bang, as Aislinn will be traveling to Ethiopia and Kenya in just a couple of weeks! During her trip, Aislinn will be visiting farmers and washing stations whose lots we feature year-on-year, gathering more information about the communities who produce the coffees we love and further strengthening our relationships with our suppliers.

While travelling, Aislinn will also be cupping and selecting coffees from the current harvest, which will arrive in Australia from the month of June onwards. Before she heads off, we want to hear from you to help us build our buying brief and accurately plan for the 2023 season!

In Ethiopia, Aislinn will spend two weeks cupping and selecting coffees from this year’s harvest. She will be based in the regions of Bensa, Kochere and Shakiso, where she has plans to visit washing stations owned by Testi Specialty Coffee, like Aroresa, Jigesa and Hadeso. The objectives of this trip (in addition to curating a stunning line up coffees!) are to deepen our relationships with our partners, improve the traceability of the coffees we source and gain a deeper understanding of the complex and nuanced supply chain here.

In Kenya, Aislinn will spend time tasting coffees with the team at Kenyacof and Kahawa Bora Mill in the region of Thika. Here, she’ll be looking for exquisite micro-lots from individual farms (including Dagitu and Kabumbu) and larger lots from cooperative washing stations (including Kiangundo and Kiama), while also making time to visit the surrounding coffee growing regions. Our goals on this trip are to further develop and strengthen the long-term, committed relationships that we have developed with our producing partners here since 2019, and to identify new coffee producers that we can start a relationship with, in order to expand and add to our line up. 

Now is the perfect time to let us know what you are interested in for your Ethiopian and Kenyan line up! Whether you would like to feature a lot from a particular producer whose coffees you have loved in the past, or to brief us in on your preferred flavour profile, regional characteristics or intended volumes – communicating your requirements ahead of purchasing helps us to accurately gauge demand for the year and is the best way to secure the coffees you love!