About Jigesa and Their Process
Jigesa is a small town in the Danbi Uddo Kebele, not far from the town of Shakiso in the Guji Zone of Ethiopia.
One of many successful operations the Yonis family owns, The Jigesa Washing Station (JWS) shares the name of the town within which it resides, holds prestigious NOP and EU Organic certifications, and collects cherries from more than 500 smallholder coffee growers in the area. Each grower holds approximately 2-5 hectares (5-13 acres) of farm land, and all have an elevation of over 1,800 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.).
Freshly picked cherries are delivered to The JWS and are floated in water to separate lower qualities before pulping. Once this quality control process is complete, the cherries are immediately pulped by traditional disc pulpers to remove the seeds (aka beans). Once pulped, the raw coffee beans will rest in fermentation tanks for 36 to 48 hours depending on the weather conditions.
During the long fermentation process, the remaining mucilage from the cherry’s fruit and skin is broken down and ultimately removed through a final washing of the coffee in long canals, leaving behind an incredibly clean coffee bean that’s ready to be dried, sorted once more, then exported. After being fully washed, the coffee is then dried on raised beds for an average of 10-12 days.
Oftentimes, teams at many specialty coffee operations like The JWS will roast test batches after drying to do fully-fledged “cuppings”—or tastings—as an additional pre-export quality control procedure.
Testi Specialty Coffee
Mr. Faysel A Yonis
Jigesa owner, Faysel Yonis’s commitment to quality is never hindered, and his stations meticulously sort, screen and process their coffees to ensure you taste the best they provide. Not only is quality a high priority, but also is their dedication to community: paying fair and sustainable prices to all the growers who sell their cherries to The Jigesa Washing Station and all the others Mr. Yonis owns.
Testi is a member of the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX), The African Finest Coffee Association (AFCA), The Ethiopian Coffee Exporter Association (ECEA) and The Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce (ECC).
To date, Project Direct has built a primary school in both Aricha and Guji, where they fund all school supplies and provide financial support and scholarships to top performing students. The project has also helped communities access clean water and electricity in the remote areas around their washing stations. Beyond providing increased opportunities, such initiatives contribute to improved safety, healthcare and productivity at the farm level."
