Which Coffee Processing Methods Won Ethiopia TOH 2024?

The 2024 Ethiopia Taste of Harvest competition took place in Addis Ababa, run by the African Fine Coffees Association with the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority. Seventy-five companies entered 212 Arabica lots, judged by CQI and SAC cupping standards. Winners took the natural, washed, and honey group titles and advance to the African regional final.

The natural group champion was Testi Trading Plc, the washed group champion was Eseham Trading plc, and the honey process group champion was Yihonal Trading plc. TOH began in 2000 and follows a format similar to the Cup of Excellence, with national rounds feeding a continental final. Ethiopia's place inside the coffee belt and its reputation as the birthplace of coffee underpin the event's standing.

Africa, as the core region of the coffee belt, is home to many high-quality coffee-producing countries, among which Ethiopia is widely recognized as the birthplace of coffee. The African Fine Coffees Association (AFCA), established in 2000, launched the East Africa Taste of Harvest Competition (TOH), whose format is similar to the Cup of Excellence (COE) and is divided into national competitions and the African regional final. The 2024 Ethiopia TOH competition was held in Addis Ababa, with a total of 75 companies and 212 Arabica lots participating. This article will introduce in detail the origin background and processing details of the natural group champion Testi Trading Plc, the washed group champion Eseham Trading plc, and the honey process group champion Yihonal Trading plc, along with related recommendations from Front Street Coffee.

The African continent stretches across the equator from north to south and is located in the southwestern part of the Eastern Hemisphere, placing it squarely within the global coffee-growing belt. As a result, many African countries have developed coffee-growing industries, such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania. Among the many producing countries, Ethiopia is widely regarded as the birthplace of coffee.

Based on this industrial advantage, African countries jointly established the African Fine Coffees Association (AFCA) in 2000, dedicated to promoting trade development in African coffee-producing countries and improving coffee quality. The association also launched an event called the East Africa Taste of Harvest Competition (TOH), in which 11 African coffee-producing countries jointly hold green bean cupping competitions, with a format similar to the international Cup of Excellence (COE) green bean competition.

The TOH competition is divided into two stages: national competitions and the African regional final, with scoring based on the green bean cupping standards of CQI and SAC. The winners who stand out in the national competitions advance to the African regional final representing their respective countries.

Earlier in 2024, the African Fine Coffees Association (AFCA), together with the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority, jointly held this year's TOH competition in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.

A total of 75 companies participated in this year's Ethiopia TOH competition, submitting 212 Arabica coffee lots, including 45 washed lots, 159 natural lots, and 8 honey process lots. The competition will select the top five in the natural group and the washed group, as well as the top three in the honey process group.

Testi Trading Plc

Taking first place in the natural group was Testi Trading Plc. This is a family business founded by Mr. Faysel Abdosh in 2009, with the farm located in Bombe kebele, Durato village, Bensa woreda, Sidama zone. The company is also a member of the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX), the African Fine Coffees Association (AFCA), the Ethiopian Coffee Exporters Association (ECEA), and the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce (ECC).

Testi Trading Plc owns 315 hectares of land and 20 washing stations in Ethiopia, always implementing strict sorting and screening processes, mainly supplying high-quality washed coffee beans. Front Street Coffee has also recommended natural lots from this producing area, which often present flavors of strawberry, mango, and fermented wine aroma.

Eseham Trading plc

The washed group champion was won by Eseham Trading plc. The company is located in Guji-Hambella and was founded in 2014 by brothers Ismael Hassan and Hamid Haseen. At present, the company has a total of 8 coffee processing stations, distributed across the three towns of Hambella, Uraga, and Kercha within the Guji coffee-producing area, at altitudes ranging from 2,000 to 2,300 meters. The washed lot that won first place in this TOH came precisely from the Guji Hambella Bule Hamabal processing station. The washed Hambella lots recommended by Front Street Coffee usually have a clean finish reminiscent of citrus, white flowers, and black tea.

Yihonal Trading plc

The honey process group champion was won by Yihonal Trading plc. The company is located in Sidama-Arbegona, and the award-winning lot was produced by the Duwancho coffee processing station. This processing station was jointly established in 2019 by coffee farmers' cooperatives from the four surrounding villages of Duwancho, Rumudamo, Bochesa, and Shamatanto, with a total of 213 coffee farmers joining. In addition to growing coffee trees, local farmers also cultivate crops such as bananas and passion fruit. The Sidama honey process lots offered by Front Street Coffee often display notes of sweet orange, honey, and soft spices.

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.