Ethiopia Guji – Hambella Bella Station (Koji Anaerobic Natural) ‎
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This coffee comes from Buku Kebele, Hambella Woreda in the West Guji zone — considered by many as the birthplace of Arabica coffee. Guji, located in the Oromia region of southern Ethiopia, was once classified as part of Sidamo but has since been recognized as a distinct coffee-producing area. Its forested landscape, rich volcanic soils with excellent drainage, elevations above 1500 m.a.s.l., and highland tropical climate (1500–2500 mm of rainfall across nine months, with average temperatures between 15–24 °C) make it an exceptional terroir for coffee cultivation. ‎
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Over the past six decades, Guji has risen to prominence as a unique coffee origin, both culturally and commercially. Hambella Bella Station spans 7.4 acres and features a 1200 m² warehouse equipped with state-of-the-art Brazilian hulling machinery to ensure efficiency and quality. The station also includes 180 raised drying beds, a 400 m² drying patio, and a 20-bed shaded experimental area. Remarkably, the station itself sits at 2450 m.a.s.l., while the cherries it processes are harvested from farms between 2100–2300 m.a.s.l. — an unusual case where the processing facility is located higher than the farms. ‎
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Hambella Bella is also home to a fully equipped cupping laboratory and a villa that can comfortably host up to seven guests, allowing for on-site lot selection and quality control. ‎
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Processing – Koji Anaerobic Natural ‎
Only ripe cherries from Buku were selectively harvested and inoculated with a Koji starter before undergoing a 5-day anaerobic fermentation. Following this, the cherries were carefully dried on raised shaded beds for 26 days, with frequent turning every 2–3 hours to ensure even drying and prevent defects. ‎
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Strategically located, Hambella Bella serves as the central hub of Lulo Coffee’s operations in Gambella. All cherries collected from Buku, Sikki, Bedesa, Bulue, and Benti-Nenka kebeles are processed, stored, and hulled here before being transported to Addis Ababa for export. ‎
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