Yabitu Koba

A bright, sweet cup with Meyer lemon up front, a cola-like depth, and a rich raisin finish. 

Koba

Yabitu Koba comes from Koba, a remote kebele in the Uraga district of Guji, in Ethiopia’s Oromia region. Guji is one of the oldest coffee-growing areas in the country. The town takes its name from the Oromiffa word for the false banana tree, which grows throughout the area.

Rain Most of the Year

The rainy season here used to last only a few months. With climate change, it now covers almost the whole year and turns the roads to mud. Harvest runs from December to February, and producers use every sunny day to pick and move as much cherry as they can. Those days are getting harder to find.

The Oromo of Koba

The farmers here are Oromo, speak Oromiffa, and keep many ancestral customs, with a quiet life built almost entirely around coffee. Many families still lack electricity and reliable drinking water. Schools are far away, so most children don’t start until around age nine, and most young people go on to farm coffee, potatoes, maize, or false banana on family or neighbouring land. Despite all this, Koba’s producers are known in specialty coffee for their dedication, inherited knowledge, and outstanding quality.