The last destination on our 3-part December 2009 journey was Sidamo and Yirga Cheffe areas of South Ethiopia.
We were hoping to get to Moredocofe in the Gjui area near Shakisso, but there are local problems between the farmers and gold miners in the area. If they mistook us Faranji (foreigner) as gold miners, we might be in trouble, so we ahd to re-route. We focused on visiting cooperatives (Unions) in Yirga Cheffe and Sidamo.
This was a harvest trip, not a cuppingCupping is a method of tasting coffee by steeping grounds in separate cups for discrete amounts of ground coffee, to reveal good flavors and defects to their fullest.... ...more trip, a time of the crop cycle to see the picking of cherryEither a flavor in the coffee, or referring to the fruit of the coffee tree, which somewhat resembles a red cherry.: Either a flavor in the coffee, or... ...more and processingThe removal of the cherry and parchment from the coffee seed.: Coffee is either wet-processed (also called washed or wet-milled) or dry-processed (also called wild, natural or natural... ...more, whereas if you come in April it’s great for cupping stocklots from the warehouse, but there is no coffee production going on.
I was with Jeremy, and we met Aleco Chigounis and his dad Tony Chigounis in Addis. Aleco is with Stumptown, his dad with old school Lacas Coffee in Philly … a rare thing when 2 generations are in coffee in the US.
Wim van Kooten of Trabocca pulled it all together and kept things sane, somewhat. Of course getting stuck in the mud after a downpour on a distant road near Hache was not in the plans, nor was the missing airplane that was supposed to get us to Addis from KenyaKenya is the East African powerhouse of the coffee world. Both in the cup, and the way they run their trade, everything is topnotch.: Kenya is the East... ...more in the first place, but it just adds a bit of spice to any coffee sourcing trip. I mean, it was going way too smoothly up until then. -Tom
Here’s the multitude of images from the EthiopiaEthiopia, formerly known as Abyssinia, or a coffee cultivar: Ethiopia, or more specifically the Empire under Haile Selassie, was known as Abyssinia. The name is Latin, derived from... ...more Harvest Trek in December:
We Do Things Differently, but it sure doesn’t look like it. Leaving Addis – Ethiopia 
Not a lot of Camels on this route, since it is not nomads here. – Ethiopia 
Cow and Booze Hotel – Ethiopia Hair Style Signs No. 2- Ethiopia 
Hair Style Signs No. 1 – Ethiopia Oromo House near Lake Ziway – Ethiopia 
Advertising in Awassa. I think a Sweet Maria’s billboard in Awassa would be a great idea – Ethiopia 
A great place for an old herder to get a Harar beer. Kids welcome too. Awassa,- Ethiopia 
Ill-conceived bar name in Awassa, Ethiopia Sidama House near Awassa – Ethiopia Ethiopia Moderne 
Do petrol trucks flip over quite often here? – Ethiopia Local color, Kuyera area- Ethiopia Colorful houses near Lake Lagano – Ethiopia Lacking a healthy respect for cars and trucks, Near Kuyera – Ethiopia Cow butts near Awassa – Ethiopia Roadside graves near Kuyera- Ethiopia Watch out for bloody dead corpses in the road (?) outside Awassa – Ethiopia View of Awassa, or Hawassa, or A-Whas-Up?- Ethiopia 
Bedele. Not at all the worst beer in Ethiopia. Dilla, Ethiopia 
The famous or infamous Get Smart Hotel in Dilla, Ethiopia Meeting with Yirga Cheffe Union folks and Haddis at the Rendevous in Dilla, Ethiopia 
Pensive waiter poses with statue at the Rendevvous in Dilla, Ethiopia They got it all. And quality service too! Dilla, Ethiopia 
Harar Sofi, Beer and Hakim Stout ad, in Dilla, Ethiopia Truck Wash, I mean, river crossing, I mean, Truck Wash. – Ethiopia More painted cattle in Dilla – Ethiopia A warning not to get in a wrestling match with another Toyota Land Cruiser. You WILL flip over. Ethiopia Roadway as the sun gets low, near Yirg Alem- Ethiopia Local domestic decor, near Yirga Cheffe – Ethiopia Local materials Mud, Hay, Banana leaf – Ethiopia At town near Worka. Local attitude. – Ethiopia 
Hair Style Signs No. 3 – Ethiopia 
A lumpy and rumpled man playing a flute? or brushing his teeth? – Ethiopia Traditional painting along the road to Worka Union- Ethiopia Near Worka town, Kochere area. – Ethiopia Worka Town photo hounds – Ethiopia Jeremy shares pictures- Ethiopia Children care for children, Worka town- Ethiopia Local architecture, with padlock. – Ethiopia Worka town locals- Ethiopia Banana leaf roof, on road to Worka mill – Ethiopia Many Ethiopian roundhouses have interesting houshold items on top, part functional to hold the weave together, part decor- Ethiopia Natural coffee on the drying tables at Worka Union Cooperative Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia Fresher cherry in the foreground, drier cherry in the back. Worka Union Cooperative Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia Roadside natural coffee, terrible quality with many immature green cherries, leaves, sticks, etc – Ethiopia Fairly fresh cherry on the drying tables. At Worka Union Cooperative Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia Fresh coffee cherry, probably in the first few days of drying, at Worka Union Cooperative Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia New fermenting/soaking tanks for washed coffee at Worka Union Cooperative Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia 
Putting out fresh cherry on the drying beds at Worka Union Cooperative Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia Sorta working, sorta hanging out to see the faranj visitors (foreigner). Worka Union Cooperative Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia Natural coffee cherry pods on the drying beds, Worka Union Cooperative Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia Natural coffee cherry pods on the drying beds, Worka Union Cooperative Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia Let’s all put our hands in the coffee and move them around! Worka Union Cooperative Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia Natural coffee cherry pods on the drying beds, Worka Union Cooperative Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia A mix of ripe dried cherry pods, som red undried ones, and green under-ripes, at Worka Union Cooperative Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia Working the drying beds at Worka Union 
Fresh cherry aid out to dry, to create dry-processed coffee, at Worka Union 
Fresh cherry aid out to dry, to create dry-processed coffee, at Worka Union Crazy Aleco messes with the locals …Worka Union Yirga Cheffe Raking dry-processed coffee on the beds to roatate it, at Worka Union Cooperative Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia Drying beds (again!) at Worka Union Cooperative Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia Vertical shot of the drying beds at Worka Union Cooperative Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia The “I Didn’t Do It” pose by the Yirgacheffe Coffee Union agronomist, at Worka Mill. Chaleco looks PO’ed, again. at Worka Union Cooperative Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia 
Typical house near Worka – Ethiopia 
Wattle and Daub, near Worka Yirga Cheffe- Ethiopia Wood and woven mats and banana leaf. Near Worka – Ethiopia Food for market, wrapped in banana leaf. – Ethiopia A very pretty thatched roof, and woven mat roundhouse- Ethiopia Walking posture, near Koke – Ethiopia Typical roadside view, in Worka, near Yirga Cheffe – Ethiopia Natural living fences, nice kids …- Ethiopia Snazzy man holds local honey mead (Tej) flask – Ethiopia Bell bottoms and butcheries – Ethiopia Hairdresser sign No. 18- Ethiopia Local smilies – Ethiopia Domestic gardens and home decor- Ethiopia Typical Yirga Cheffe landscape near the main road (the 6) – Ethiopia Another general Yirga Cheffe landscape. The rolling hills and valleys range generally from 1700 to 1900 meters – Ethiopia Shoe hustler, Yirga Cheffe – Ethiopia Bold stripes and blues – Ethiopia Another roadside grave in YirgaCheffe- Ethiopia Plastic wrap and prime cuts, Yirga Cheffe area – Ethiopia House, Banana, Coffee, Beautiful landscape of YirgaCheffe – Ethiopia 
Beer and Tej at a local bar. Yirga Cheffe – Ethiopia Just waiting for a Sidama cowboy to come back and ride off into the sunset- Ethiopia Custom dress shop, S. Ethi style. – Ethiopia Konga Private Mill along the roadway – Ethiopia Stike a Pose! – Ethiopia Cleaning up coffee that has fallen from the raised beds, at Konga Cooperative Special coffee indeed? Konga Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe- Ethiopia Parchment coffee drying on the beds. This is WET process coffee, unlike the dried pods in the photos from Worka. Konga Cooperative Moving wet parchment to the beds on screens, at Konga Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe- Ethiopia Fresh wet parchment coffee from the fermentation tanks, brought to the raised beds for drying. Konga Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe- Ethiopia Poseurs. Konga Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe- Ethiopia Another view of Fresh wet parchment coffee. Konga Raking coffee on the screens to aid in even drying. Konga Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe- Ethiopia Aleco Chigouis at Konga Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe- Ethiopia “Specialit Coffee” Konga Cooperative Agitating coffee in the washing channel, at Konga Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe- Ethiopia Standing in the fermentation tank. Konga Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe- Ethiopia More of that kickback “Specialit Coffee” at Konga Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe- Ethiopia Bringing wet parchment to the beds for initial drying. Konga Cooperative Konga Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe- Ethiopia In the heat of mid-day, the coffee is covered to prevent over-drying. at Konga, YirgaCheffe- Ethiopia The coffee picker who didn’t pick out all the defects! Konga Union, YirgaCheffe- Ethiopia Parchment coffee on the dryoing beds at Konga Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe- Ethiopia Drying beds at Konga with surrounding coffee-planted forest. Coffee resting in the warehouse. Konga Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe- Ethiopia Because of some scares of contamination, all new jute bags are now used for parchment coffee. at Konga YirgaCheffe- Ethiopia Posing for pictures at Konga YirgaCheffe- Ethiopia Low grade parchment on the beds at Konga Closeup of wet, fresh parchment coffee straight outta the fermentation tanks. at Konga Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe- Ethiopia Another overview of Konga drying beds. They are best installed on sloping hills, and it is important to note that they do not dry coffee on the ground Hiding place under the car. Konga It’s a One Mule Town. YirgaCheffe- Ethiopia Typical Ethiopian heavy hauler, parked on the street in Yirga Cheffe – Ethiopia Typical Yirga Cheffe coffee, older untrimmed trees with shade trees above.- Ethiopia Wet process parchment on the drying beds at Koke Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe- Ethiopia Chicken screen with plastic mesh, a good drying system, at Koke Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe- Ethiopia Parchment coffee on the beds at Koke Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe- Ethiopia Not a funeral. Wim of Trabocca talks to the millers, at Koke Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe- Ethiopia They submerge coffee, a wet ferment method, at Koke Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe- Ethiopia Moveable drying screens at Koke Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe- Ethiopia Shade trees and coffee next to the water waste pond at Koke Union, YirgaCheffe- Ethiopia Another view of drying screens at Koke Cooperative Koke Union, YirgaCheffe- Ethiopia Kold Kickin It at Koke Coffee being collected from the screens when it hits 15 moisture, Koke Cooperative 
Local smailes at Koke, (pronounced Ko-Kay) YirgaCheffe- Ethiopia More casual work … at Koke Union, YirgaCheffe- Ethiopia Wet process coffee parchment on the beds, at Koke Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe- Ethiopia Whatever it is, it is thataway. Koke YirgaCheffe- Ethiopia Just relaxing , Koke Cooperative Union Farangi-chasing, a new sport, near Koke union mill – Ethiopia Donkey rides- Ethiopia The perilous ladder to success (?) – Yirga Cheffe Ethiopia Happy log riders – Ethiopia Lem Lem ORS ? All kids love lemons I guess.- Ethiopia A favorite business painting from this trip. I Feel Cold too.- Ethiopia The giant Jebena for coffee, near Hafursa Union- Ethiopia Rules for Hafursa Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe – Ethiopia 
Entrance to Hafursa Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe – Ethiopia Ripe coffee cherry, VERY ripe cherry. Hafursa Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe – Ethiopia Less ripe coffee cherry, at Hafursa Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe – Ethiopia More ripe coffee cherry, Hafursa Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe – Ethiopia Can’t resist a good photo or ten of coffee cherry, Hafursa Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe – Ethiopia Coffee ready to pulp at the mill. Hafursa Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe – Ethiopia A disappointingly dirty dump bin at Hafursa Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe – Ethiopia There’s always one character around. Hafursa Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe – Ethiopia Farmers and their coffee, which was set up as decoration for our visit, more ore less. Hafursa Union All wood wheelbarrow, Hafursa Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe – Ethiopia Aleco looking bummed about the poor mill condition at Hafursa Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe – Ethiopia Somebody needs a new jacket for sure. Hafursa Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe – Ethiopia End of the day. Hafursa Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe – Ethiopia Fermentation tanks at Hafursa Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe – Ethiopia Submerged coffee in the ferm. tank. Dry ferment or wet ferment like this has different results. Hafursa Aleco rests on the resting coffee. Hafursa Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe – Ethiopia Crazy rundown shack at Hafursa They posed this photo, with the kid and the security guard in the center. Hafursa Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe – Ethiopia Kids at Hafursa, YirgaCheffe – Ethiopia Thumbs up from T. Owen. Hafursa Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe – Ethiopia Overripe and underripe coffee is drioed as natural. at Hafursa Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe – Ethiopia A message left from Rod Lazaar, who was suposedly there the day before us. Hafursa Cooperative Union, YirgaCheffe – Ethiopia All different sizes. Farmer’s kids at Hafursa – Ethiopia They wanted a picture together. at Hafursa Coop Weighing out incoming coffee cherry at Hafursa Collection Station- Ethiopia At a Hafursa collection station down the road, more ripe cherry and a few greens- Ethiopia Woman and crafty scull & crossbones shirt at at Hafursa Collection Station- Ethiopia A cheerleader and his friends, at Hafursa Collection Station- Ethiopia Hibuscis at Lesiwon Hotel in Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia Christmas time was coming, at Lesiwon hotel in Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia Aleco gets that thumbs up response he was looking for, at Hafursa Collection Station- Ethiopia Wim Van Kooten of Trabocca and the Yirga Cheffe Union guys, Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia Ethiopian cats at Lesiwon Hotel, Yirga Cheffe Town, Ethiopia Ethiopian Cats No. 2, Lesiwon Hotel in Yirga Cheffe Town, Ethiopia More of that humpback beef. Yirga Cheffe Town, Ethiopia Yes, that IS how you spell it. Land of the marshes. Yirga Cheffe Town, Ethiopia One piece molded Mike shoes with facimile laces. Yirga Cheffe Town, Ethiopia Raiders fan, so far away from home. Yirga Cheffe Town, Ethiopia Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Yirga Cheffe Town, Ethiopia. They make a LOT of noise in the morining over their loudspeaker. ![]()
I tried to make a cow friend in Yirga Cheffe but it didn’t go well, Ethiopia ![]()
Friendly face in Yirga Cheffe Town, Ethiopia ![]()
Wel-Come, get your hair buzzed. Yirga Cheffe Town, Ethiopia ![]()
Coming back from Orthdox Chruch, early morning in Yirga Cheffe Town, Ethiopia ![]()
Hair Style Signs No. 4, Yirga Cheffe Town, Ethiopia ![]()
Perhaps one of my favorite photo-y photos of the tripYirga Cheffe Town, Ethiopia ![]()
What’s with the crazy one on the end??? Yirga Cheffe Town, Ethiopia ![]()
TaeKwonDo in Yirga Cheffe Town, Ethiopia ![]()
Goats of Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia ![]()
Back streets of Yirga Cheffe are NOT the same as the view from the paved road, Ethiopia ![]()
They got what you need. Yirga Cheffe Town, Ethiopia ![]()
Tej, Honey Mead fermented with native yeasts and native bacteria too, I am sure. Yirga Cheffe Town, Ethiopia ![]()
Kicking back Tej at 8 AM. Yirga Cheffe Town, Ethiopia ![]()
More outgoing, and loved seeing her image on my camera LCD, (well, they all do – that’s the point of all the kid photos!) Yirga Cheffe ![]()
On her way to school, the shy one. Yirga Cheffe Town, Ethiopia ![]()
Local huckster in Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia ![]()
Local punks. Yirga Cheffe Town, Ethiopia ![]()
Dogs of Yirga Cheffe Town, Ethiopia ![]()
Dog gets drawn into unwilling photo. Yirga Cheffe Town, Ethiopia ![]()
Ready to Aeropress in Yirga Cheffe Town, Ethiopia ![]()
Viscious painted Lion of Ras Tefari -Yirga Cheffe Town, Ethiopia ![]()
Not a brand you see in the US much. Oil Libya- Ethiopia ![]()
Wet coffee cherry. in Sepia tone- Ethiopia ![]()
Moplaco sign for their Yirga Cheffe warehouse- Ethiopia ![]()
At Hafursa, the old guy raking the DP cherry was calimed to be 108! Maybe in Ethiopian years- Ethiopia ![]()
Proud of his baby- Ethiopia ![]()
Mill along the way. This might be Chelba, where I visited last year. – Ethiopia ![]()
One who wanted their photo taken, one who didn’t- Ethiopia ![]()
Don’t run over the cows, hit the herder instead ? – Ethiopia ![]()
Typical morning scene on Route 6 headed north. We had 2 Toyota Land Cruisers on this trip- Ethiopia ![]()
Don’t leave your bike in the road ? – Ethiopia ![]()
Ethiopia, where nobody rides alone! ![]()
More bloody accident artwork. Wonago Town- Ethiopia ![]()
Watch our for men in aqua blue pants ? – Ethiopia ![]()
Hair Style Signs No. 5- Ethiopia ![]()
Harar Beer Served Here- Ethiopia ![]()
Unwilling to take the bubble wrap off that new bike …- Ethiopia ![]()
What’s hot on DVD in Dilla- Ethiopia ![]()
Possible new hairstyles! – Ethiopia ![]()
Sadly, I don’t have the right hair type to get #12- Ethiopia ![]()
And next to it … KITTENS! – Ethiopia ![]()
At the barber shop, a beautiful photoshop work of art on the wall! Inspirational! – Ethiopia ![]()
More women who really wanted to see themselves in a photo but were too shy to ask.- Ethiopia ![]()
Hair Style Signs No. 8- Ethiopia ![]()
Don’t feed your HIV infected teen ? – Ethiopia ![]()
MASTER BLASTER DISCO! By far the best shirt I saw in Ethiopia. On the Road to Adido, Ethiopia ![]()
A coffee wJebena by the roadsideRoad to Adido, Ethiopia ![]()
Recent roof work. Road to Adido, Ethiopia ![]()
Skins pegged out to dry. Road to Adido, Ethiopia ![]()
Typical roadside coffee, some moldy, some very unripe and green. Road to Adido, Ethiopia ![]()
A giant mill that is probably Kemel Abdella’s. Road to Adido, Ethiopia ![]()
Coffee on the Road to Adido that is at 2200 meters, Ethiopia ![]()
Only a few cherries on the 2200 meter coffee, on the Road to Adido, Ethiopia ![]()
Coffee at 2200 meters, very very little production! Road to Adido, Ethiopia ![]()
Only a few cherries on the 2200 meter coffee, on the Road to Adido, Ethiopia, horizontal view. Road to Adido, Ethiopia ![]()
She ran up the road to meet us and was pouring sweat! At 2200 meters, Road to Adido, Ethiopia ![]()
Kids at the 2200 meter location. Road to Adido, Ethiopia ![]()
Locals drying coffee for their own use, very moldy looking. Road to Adido, Ethiopia ![]()
Coffee and banana along the ridge road, topping ut at 2300 meters. Road to Adido, Ethiopia ![]()
Colorful graves, Road to Adido, Ethiopia ![]()
Headed down from the ridge to Adido, Ethiopia ![]()
2300 meter coffee! Road to Adido, Ethiopia ![]()
The “misty valley” of Adado, or Adido, or Idido …Road to Adido, Ethiopia ![]()
Another shot of The “misty valley” of Adado, or Adido, or Idido …Road to Adido, Ethiopia ![]()
Boy in a coffee tree. Road to Adido, Ethiopia ![]()
Boy in a coffee tree, double-take. Road to Adido, Ethiopia ![]()
Coffee and banana, on the Road to Adido, Ethiopia ![]()
Super-duper unripe coffee fruit being dried for naturals. Road to Adido, Ethiopia ![]()
Cooling off in the creek. Road to Adido, Ethiopia ![]()
Bikes decorated with flowers and tape. Adido, Ethiopia ![]()
Most coffee is concentrated in the top part of the tree on rustic plants like these. Road to Adido, Ethiopia ![]()
Rebar hammer! Adido ,Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia ![]()
View from the road of Adido Coffee Union, Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia ![]()
Shoveling out the coffee skins after hulling. Adido Coffee Union, Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia ![]()
Natural coffee “pods” drying on raised beds. Adido Coffee Union, Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia ![]()
Mother and daughter at the drying beds. Adido, Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia ![]()
Wet-process “Parchment” coffee being collected from the drying beds at Adido Coffee Union, Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia ![]()
Natural AKA Dry-Processed coffee, Adido Coffee Union, Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia ![]()
Fresh wet-parchment coffee from the soaking tanks, laid out to dry. Adido Coffee Union, Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia ![]()
Spreading out wet parchment coffee. Adido Coffee Union, Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia ![]()
Small production of fruit on rustic coffee trees at Adido Coffee Union, Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia ![]()
Another view of unpruned trees grown in typical Ethiopia fashion. Adido Coffee Union ![]()
Next to Adido mill, unpruned trees grown in typical Ethiopia fashion. ![]()
Natural coffee “seconds” made from unripe cherry, like Mbuni in East Africa. Adido Coffee Union, Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia ![]()
Proud to mill coffee! Adido Coffee Union, Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia ![]()
Tony Chigounis, Aleco’s dad, shows people their own image on his camera. At Adido Coffee Union, Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia ![]()
Poor cherry selection in the bin – looks like Skittles! Adido Coffee Union, Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia ![]()
Pushing the demucilaged coffee through the sluice, Adido Coffee Union, Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia ![]()
Fresh demucilaged coffee. It is put in a holding tank and “soaked” for 8 hours after forced demucilaging. Adido Coffee Union, Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia ![]()
Separating for size and ripeness in a “criba” type drum before the cherry is demuclaged. Adido Coffee Union, Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia ![]()
Another view of the “criba” at a high shutter speed to stop motion. Adido Coffee Union, Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia ![]()
Pulped and demucilaged coffee washed into the soaking tanks. Adido Coffee Union, Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia ![]()
Trading notes, the YirgaCheffe Union bosses, at Adido Coffee Union, Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia ![]()
The demucilage mill at Adido Coffee Union is made by Pinhalense in Brazil, Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia ![]()
The coffee cherry pre-selector, Adido Coffee Union, Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia ![]()
Selecting cherry for size, Adido Coffee Union, Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia ![]()
Oddly, they did not have their equipment adjusted too well, eh? Adido Coffee Union, Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia ![]()
Something very funky here, worms that were falling from the hopper and drowning in a puddle below. Sick! Adido Coffee Union, Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia ![]()
I felt that the DP coffee was much better looking than the washed coffee at Adido ![]()
Another view of the DP coffee drying at Adido Coffee Union, Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia ![]()
Child with a child on her back! Adido Coffee Union, Yirga Cheffe, Ethiopia ![]()
They were producing both wet-process and dry-process coffee at Adido when we visited. ![]()
A view of dry-process coffee cherry pods, with a handful of wet-process “parchment coffee” that I placed beside it. Adido Coffee Union, Yirga Cheffe, ![]()
BFF forever??? At Adido Coffee Union ![]()
Running afte the car, mid-stride. – Ethiopia ![]()
Near Adido, a view of typical Ethiopia cultivars with bronze tips. ![]()
Jungle Boy. Well, not really. But he came out of the banana plants. ![]()
Roundhouse with wattle and daub walls- Ethiopia ![]()
Another style of roof construction. – Ethiopia ![]()
We did a lot of waving, like we were on a 7 day Sidama parade. – Ethiopia ![]()
Garden flowers show pride – Interesting to see Mexican Sage in Ethiopia! – Ethiopia ![]()
Foodstuffs, packed in banana leaf – Ethiopia ![]()
Rainbow Umbrellas and Sky- Ethiopia ![]()
Dirt coffee – Ethiopia ![]()
Tree and sky – Ethiopia ![]()
A clean 3 disk Kenya type Mckinnon pulper at Michile Union, Ethiopia ![]()
Traditional fermentation tanks at Michile Union, Ethiopia ![]()
One who demanded a photo ! Michile Union, Ethiopia ![]()
The cess pond where coffee pulp-contaminated water is held. Michile Union, Ethiopia ![]()
The ferment crew at Michile Union, Ethiopia ![]()
Interesting patina on a shovel. Michile Union, Ethiopia ![]()
Coffee pusher. Michile Union, Ethiopia ![]()
Parchment coffee resting/conditioning, at Michile Union, Ethiopia ![]()
Sorting parchmet coffee at Michile Union, Ethiopia ![]()
Posterized image, sorting coffee at Michile Union, Ethiopia ![]()
Faces of Michile … ![]()
Moveable drying screens, Michile Union, Ethiopia ![]()
Sorting parchment coffee at Michile Union, Ethiopia ![]()
Sorting parchment coffee 3, at Michile Union, Ethiopia ![]()
What the heck is Y-3. I saw it all over Sidama area. Michile Union, Ethiopia ![]()
Sorting parchment coffee, 2, at Michile Union, Ethiopia ![]()
A princess was here. Michile Union, Ethiopia ![]()
Part of the Traditional coffee ceremony at Michile Union, Ethiopia ![]()
Traditional coffee ceremony at Michile Union, Ethiopia ![]()
Mmm… Tibs. Uh, yet to be cooked. – Ethiopia ![]()
Tibs restaurant in Dilla – Ethiopia ![]()
Hair Style Signs No. 10- Ethiopia ![]()
And this is tibs. In Dilla – Ethiopia ![]()
Hair Style Signs No. 9 (repeat?)- Ethiopia ![]()
Kill the cow, not the herder! – Ethiopia ![]()
Might makes right! – Ethiopia ![]()
Roadside Pineapples – Ethiopia ![]()
Another logger flips for Yirg Alem, Ethiopia ![]()
Roman Barbary. Hair Style Signs No. 11- Ethiopia ![]()
Sign for the best lodging in S. Ethiopia, the Aregash. Yirg Alem, Ethiopia ![]()
The Ethiopia Orthodox cathedral at Yirg Alem, Ethiopia ![]()
A mix of traditional and new, Aregash Lodge, Yirg Alem, Ethiopia ![]()
Ethiopia coffee ceremony at Aregash Lodge, Yirg Alem, Ethiopia ![]()
Buzzards at Aregash Lodge, Yirg Alem, Ethiopia ![]()
Ethiopia coffee ceremony at Aregash Lodge, Yirg Alem, Ethiopia ![]()
Night time light show. Aregash Lodge, Yirg Alem, Ethiopia ![]()
A young Hyena visits at dusk, Aregash Lodge, Yirg Alem, Ethiopia ![]()
Monkeys! Aregash Lodge, Yirg Alem, Ethiopia ![]()
In the morning, a beautiful deer on the grounds of Aregash Lodge, Yirg Alem, Ethiopia ![]()
Hyena scratches down by the caves at Aregash Lodge, Yirg Alem, Ethiopia ![]()
Monkey and little monkey. Aregash Lodge, Yirg Alem, Ethiopia ![]()
Monkey and little monkey, 2. Aregash Lodge, Yirg Alem, Ethiopia ![]()
Dew in the ferns, at Aregash Lodge, Yirg Alem, Ethiopia ![]()
Hair Style Signs No. 13 – Ethiopia ![]()
Flyboy. – Ethiopia ![]()
Along the way, we stopped to chat with locals while the other car caught up. – Ethiopia ![]()
Too dang cute! – Ethiopia ![]()
She deserves more than one image!- Ethiopia ![]()
She wanted a photo too! – Ethiopia ![]()
Kids along the road as we waited for the other car. – Ethiopia ![]()
Buck naked kids swimming in apond near the road. – Ethiopia ![]()
Locals at Shoye Cooperative, Sidamo Ethiopia ![]()
Sorting coffee at Shoye Cooperative, Sidamo Ethiopia ![]()
Obama fever at Shoye Cooperative, Sidamo Ethiopia ![]()
Rested coffee is loaded into bags, ready to send to the market place and the dry mill. Shoye Cooperative, Sidamo Ethiopia ![]()
Drying screens at Shoye Cooperative, Sidamo Ethiopia ![]()
Moving wet parchment coffee to the drying beds at Shoye Cooperative, Sidamo Ethiopia ![]()
Everyone, put your hands in the air, and wave ’em like you just don’t care! Shoye Cooperative, Sidamo Ethiopia ![]()
Crazy blockwork at Shoye ![]()
? at Shoye Cooperative, Sidamo Ethiopia ![]()
Donkey Train. – Ethiopia ![]()
Roadside runners, near Shoye Cooperative, Sidamo Ethiopia ![]()
Jeremy and Aleco have some macho “feats of strength” at Shoye Cooperative, Sidamo Ethiopia ![]()
Hair Salon No 27- Ethiopia ![]()
Overloaded, even for Ethiopia ![]()
Walking the verdant highland Sidama plains – Ethiopia ![]()
Aids relief truck? – Ethiopia ![]()
Yes, but what about hand guns? In Aleti Wondo – Ethiopia ![]()
Krazy Kidz, while we were lost looking for Titira cooperative – Ethiopia ![]()
Interesting faces, near Titira Coop – Ethiopia ![]()
Kids at Titira Cooperative, Sidamo, Ethiopia ![]()
Aleco getting jiggy with the kids. – Ethiopia ![]()
Wet-process parchment on the drying beds at Titira Cooperative, Sidamo, Ethiopia ![]()
Girl with the crazy matted hair … Titira Cooperative, Sidamo, Ethiopia ![]()
Kids under the drying bed frames (one of my favorite pictures) at Titira Cooperative, Sidamo, Ethiopia ![]()
Is that a boy in the GIRL shirt? Titira Cooperative, Sidamo, Ethiopia ![]()
Beautiful kids at Titira Cooperative, Sidamo, Ethiopia ![]()
Caretaker at Titira Cooperative, Sidamo, Ethiopia ![]()
A motorcycle gets a lift. Aleti Wondo, Ethiopia ![]()
Swank art at the restaurant ion Aleti Wondo – Ethiopia ![]()
Zazzy painting near Aleti Wondo – Ethiopia ![]()
Bearing heavy loads – Ethiopia ![]()
Graveyard with woven basketry fence – Ethiopia ![]()
Basket homes, the first time I have seen them, en route to Hache – Ethiopia ![]()
Another view of basket homes- Ethiopia ![]()
Bamboo, the universal building material, en route to Hache. – Ethiopia ![]()
View from the ridge road, en route to Hache.- Ethiopia ![]()
Beutifully crafted thatched roof home, en route to Hache.- Ethiopia ![]()
Colorful townhomes, en route to Hache.- Ethiopia ![]()
Ping pong was quite popular in this district! – Ethiopia ![]()
Detail of beautiful thatchery – Ethiopia ![]()
Thatched roundhouse and landscape view, en route to Hache.- Ethiopia ![]()
Stream at 3000 meters – Ethiopia ![]()
Logita Falls attraction on the Gelena River- Ethiopia ![]()
The roaring Galena river- Ethiopia ![]()
Marketplace town near Shanta Golba – Ethiopia ![]()
Bensa Woreda in SNNP Sidama area – Ethiopia ![]()
An ex-employee of Mike’s Body Shop came back to Bensa! – Ethiopia ![]()
Antrance to Shanta Golba or Shanta Golbate as the sign reads – Ethiopia ![]()
Mmm Mmmeat – Ethiopia ![]()
Pastoral highlands, near Hache – Ethiopia ![]()
Yet another Hair Salon- Ethiopia ![]()
Hache Wondo private mill with covered raised beds for intial drying, a good thing! , Ethiopia ![]()
Girls at Hache Wondo private mill, Ethiopia ![]()
Parchment coffee resting in the warehouse at Hache Wondo private mill, Ethiopia ![]()
Rural Sidama, Hache Wondo private mill, Ethiopia ![]()
Mixy pickings at the cooperative Hache Union, Ethiopia ![]()
The dump bin shows mediocre cherry selectionHache Union, Ethiopia ![]()
Fast shutter stops the action of coffee draining from the pulper. Hache Union, Ethiopia ![]()
Coffee coming out of the pulper at Hache Union, Ethiopia ![]()
Coffee running to the channel to the fermentation tank at Hache Union, Ethiopia ![]()
A traditional McKinnon pulper at Hache Union, Ethiopia ![]()
The coffee in the fermentation tank at Hache Union, Ethiopia ![]()
P-2 grade parchment on the drying beds at Hache Union, Ethiopia ![]()
The dryoing beds at Hache Union, Ethiopia ![]()
Closeup of not-so-good P-2 grade parchment at Hache Union, Ethiopia ![]()
Vertical view of the drying beds at Hache Union in the late afternoon sun, Ethiopia ![]()
He said he had farmed coffee since the 1950’s here in the area. Hache Union, Ethiopia ![]()
A real charcater, at Hache Union, Ethiopia ![]()
The old ambassador of Hache Union, Ethiopia ![]()
Aleco bats a dried corn cob with a big caveman club. Hache Union, Ethiopia ![]()
Traditional ornamentation near Hache – Ethiopia ![]()
Great motorcycle art – Ethiopia ![]()
Hair Style Signs No. 14, cut n’ paste style – Ethiopia ![]()
“The dudes” Shanta Golba Union, Ethiopia ![]()
Very very mixy pickings, under-ripes and ripes. Shanta Golba Union, Ethiopia ![]()
All shades of red, yellow and green. Shanta Golba Union, Ethiopia ![]()
Pretty picture, terrible cherry selection. Shanta Golba Union, Ethiopia ![]()
The other things they dry besides coffee … Shanta Golba Union, Ethiopia ![]()
Poor quality wet parchment coming out of the pulper. Shanta Golba Union, Ethiopia ![]()
Very mixy cherry. Shanta Golba Union, Ethiopia ![]()
The pulper. Shanta Golba Union, Ethiopia ![]()
Wet parchment coffee. Shanta Golba Union, Ethiopia ![]()
Jeremy resorts to chasing local kids for fun! But he just wants a hug. Shanta Golba Union, Ethiopia ![]()
Pooh doesn’t know how to pick and mill coffee! Shanta Golba Union, Ethiopia ![]()
Sign near Lake Awassa (Hawassa) – Ethiopia ![]()
A favorite sign, kids in a basket… – Ethiopia ![]()
Clashing modes of transport. – Ethiopia ![]()
Traditional Sidama person, and Cement Blocks? – Ethiopia ![]()
The arid rift valley plains near Lake Lagano – Ethiopia ![]()
Kids of the dusty plane. Near Lake Ziway- Ethiopia ![]()
Home of the plains … – Ethiopia ![]()
Roadside Grub – Ethiopia ![]()
Beautiful trees near Lake Ziway – Ethiopia ![]()
Super Solaar! – Ethiopia ![]()
Visa and Mastercard check out their hott selves – Ethiopia ![]()
Ling Long, but no Last Long- Ethiopia ![]()
Would you trust a CONFORT bed room? – Ethiopia ![]()
Since Maria is a knitter, I knew she would like this factory name, outside near Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ![]()
Great shoe paintings … -Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ![]()
One stop death shop -Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ![]()
No high-steppin’ ! -Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ![]()
Really Gourmet-lookin’Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ![]()
A suburban dream? Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ![]()
Thompson and Haddis in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ![]()
Haddis setting up cups at Supreme Small Holders lab in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ![]()
The ever slick Tony Chigounis (with Aleco’s sunglasses), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ![]()
Wim van Kooten cupping coffee in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ![]()
Le jereme in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ![]()
We head out to the airport, after 2 weeks on the road, and fate smiles upon us.
