Oromia and Sidama Cooperatives
Yirgacheffe & Sidama, Ethiopia
Ethiopia is known as the birthplace of coffee - and they know how to grow those beans! Our coffee comes from the Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union, made up of 34 member coops spread throughout the central plateau of Yirgacheffe and Sidamo.
We worked with Oromia to bring the first ever Fair Trade, Organic Ethiopian into the U.S. When I brought back roasted “Oromia Blend” to the farmers, they went wild! Few had ever tasted their own coffee. They were very proud (and let me sleep in the former Emperor’s bed!).
The beans are picked from wild-looking trees hidden in lush forest. They have the unique fruitiness and slightly earthy tones associated with fine Ethiopian coffees.

Our Ethiopian Coffees
- Ethiopia Oromia (Dark Roast)
- Moka Java (Medium Roast)
- Berkeley Shark Bite (Dark Roast)
- Marrakesh Express (Dark Roast)
- Green Beans Ethiopian (Unroasted)
People-Centered Development Projects
Fighting Cervical Cancer: (2014-ongoing)
- working with Grounds for Health to develop a community-based cervical cancer detection and treatment program
- As of 2019, 12 communites reached, 14,000 women screened and 1,500 women treated
- Funding commitment to date: $125,000
Bringing Clean Water to Coffee Communities: (2008-2012)
- "Miriam's Well" - built a water tank and well for easy access to clean water in a remote coffee village
- Funding committed: $10,000
Education Program:
- constructed new classrooms and hired qualified teachers
Ethiopian Trademark Initiative:
- created a workable, fair trademark license to prevent abuse by large companies