Ayele Tulu Natural, filter

This washing station was established in 2014 by Ayele Tulu who is a second generation coffee producer. The coffee collected by Ayele washing station is grown at altitudes ranging from 2000 to 2340 MASL. Over 600 coffee farmers deliver their cherries to the washing station and 15 permanent employees work there. Coffee is a family affair as his eldest son, Tsegab, has also worked in the industry for many years and now owns his own traceable coffee export company, Heleph Coffee Export. Heleph oversees all coffee preparation protocols from harvest to export, ensuring that the highest quality beans are supplied.

Ayele Tulu Washing Station is in Bona Zurita District, Sidama Zone, 106km from Hawassa in Ethiopia. Sidama coffee is renowned for its complex and diverse flavor profiles. Coffee beans from this region often offer floral, fruity, and sometimes spicy notes, with a crisp acidity that is typical of Ethiopian coffees.

Since its release, variety 74110 has become one of the most famous and widely propagated varieties in Ethiopia, known for its floral and citrus profile. Variety 74112 has shown signs of resistance in the field and has given researchers the confidence to select the mother tree for resistance breeding. Variety 74112 has been particularly adopted in mid and high altitudes in the southern, southwestern and western growing regions of Ethiopia. It is one of the most widely propagated varieties in Ethiopia

Small producers in the region bring their ripe cherries to the washing station, where they are laid out in thin layers to dry in the sun for 15 to 22 days, depending on weather conditions, until they reach a moisture content of 10 to 12%. During this drying phase, the coffees are regularly rotated and sorted to ensure a uniform development of flavors. The resulting cup has a pleasant acidity and a gentle liveliness, highlighting the region's particular microclimate. Once dried, the beans are stored in a secure warehouse awaiting transport to Addis Ababa for final processing.