Mr. Bekele Gemeda returns to the fresh crop lineup at MAKER in 2025

Every year at Maker we look forward to fresh crop Ethiopian coffees landing to our shores here in Australia. Brimming with excitement, our roasting and sourcing team have once again this year found very few comparisons that can rival the floral purity and classically fruit driven profile of Mr. Bekele Gemeda. This is a renowned coffee grower who needs little introduction from us, other than to say that this just might be his most celebrated growing year yet. 

Highly regarded by many of the world's top specialty coffee roasters and professional baristas alike, Mr. Bekele cultivates his land with heirloom varieties in a way that exemplifies the most crystal clear interpretation of what a washed coffee from the Worka region in Yirga Chefe is all about. 

A mainstay in Ethiopian specialty coffee production, the washed processing method, is deftly utilised at Mr. Bekele's local washing station to highlight the nuance and vibrancy of these well cared for heirloom varieties.

The selection of just-ripe cherries, same day depulping and a short 12 hour fermentation period further move this lot into the upper echelon of agricultural mastery and control.

The resulting coffee post fermentation is then washed in fresh water channels to remove mucilage and dried on raised beds for 15 days. This approach results in a clean and vibrant cup that celebrates all the efforts of the grower and the immensely unique characteristics of the Yirga Chefe region.

This micro lot is from a single producer in Ethiopia and represents a small movement that empowers Ethiopian growers like Mr. Bekele with a direct marketplace, fair pricing, and well-deserved recognition for their dedication to craftsmanship and specialty coffee of the highest quality.

There is an unmistakable perfumed and floral character of jasmine that can be felt halfway across the room when ground fresh. Oftentimes this can be a gateway to further exploration in specialty coffee for those who have yet to experience this magical cup. A carefully prepared coffee from Mr. Bekele can have the beautiful flow on effects of opening up a very specific set of flavour receptors that you might not have known you had previously. 

Our thanks goes to Cafe Imports Australia for allowing us the great pleasure of seeing this beautiful coffee multiple seasons running. We hope this lot becomes an annual feature on our menu for many more years to come. 

We simply adore Mr. Bekele’s incredible work and look forward to sharing this exceptional representation of the highest quality in Ethiopian coffee with you at Maker coming into Spring and Summer later this year.