Ethiopia Shakiso Hadeso

Hadeso is a remote woreda in Ethiopia’s Guji region. The name Guji comes from a tribe of the Oromo people. Shakiso, the district where this coffee is produced, is located in the East Guji Zone of Oromia, about 500 kilometers south of Addis Ababa. Odo Shakiso is bordered by the Dawa River to the south, Bule Hora to the west, Uraga to the northeast, Bore and Adola to the north, and Liben to the east.

The farms supplying the Hadeso washing station vary in distance from the city. The closest are just 10 minutes away by motorcycle, while the farthest are an hour out. In total, 500 farmers contribute coffee to the washing station.

Most farms are accessible by dirt roads. During the harvest, producers use motorcycles, horses, or donkeys to transport bags of cherries to the nearest collection center. These bags are then moved by truck to the central collection center in Hadeso. While transportation is generally straightforward, the rainy season in November and December often complicates logistics. This season overlaps with the harvest, bringing temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius and increased humidity. These conditions benefit the coffee plants but create muddy roads that make transportation more difficult.

Farmers in Hadeso intercrop coffee with native species such as false banana trees, which provide shade and help fertilize the soil. Since producers deliver coffee in cherry form, they do not produce pulp waste on the farm. Instead, collection centers prepare organic compost and distribute it to the producers. The coffee is fermented in cement tanks for 36 to 48 hours and then dried for five to seven days under plastic parabolic covers, depending on the weather.

Most producers in this area are part of the Gedeo culture and speak the Gedeo language. Cultural traditions remain deeply woven into daily life. For example, animals such as birds, dogs, and cats are treated with great respect.

Because many farms are located in remote areas, families often face limited access to clean water, electricity, and schools. Children from the most distant farms may begin working at an early age. Opportunities outside the region are limited, and migration to larger cities is not always feasible due to significant educational gaps. As a result, many young people choose to remain on their parents' land or purchase neighboring farms, continuing the work of coffee farming.