Bona Zuria is a district in Ethiopia’s renowned Sidamo region, celebrated for its rich coffee heritage. Bordered by Oromia to the south, Hula to the west, Bursa to the northwest, Arbegona to the north, and Bensa to the east, this area provides ideal growing conditions for specialty coffee.
This coffee is cultivated by 600 smallholder farmers, each managing between three to eight hectares of land. They have been refining their craft for over a decade, growing carefully selected JARC varietals under natural shade. Their dedication to quality ensures a consistently exceptional harvest.
Did you know? Ethiopian coffee varieties can be broadly divided into two types: JARC varieties and wild coffee plants. JARC varieties were developed by the Jimma Agricultural Research Centre (JARC), one of Ethiopia’s federal agricultural research institutes, to improve disease resistance and yields. A total of 40 varieties have been created, each maintaining Ethiopia’s characteristic flavor complexity while ensuring sustainability for smallholder farmers.
Once the coffee cherries reach peak ripeness, they are meticulously handpicked and delivered to the Ayele Tulu Washing Station. The beans undergo fermentation for 16 to 35 hours in GrainPro bags or sealed barrels to develop their complex flavors. Afterward, they dry on raised African beds for five to six weeks before the outer layers are removed for final drying, ensuring perfect moisture balance for roasting.