Beloya

The Beloya washing station is located in the Kochere district of the Yirgacheffe region, north of Chelelektu, about 45 km from Dilla, the administrative centre of the Gedeo zone. The washing station has two processing units, each with a large capacity, that can promptly process coffee cherries from small producers, even during peak season. The station has been in operation for 25 years and was recently acquired by new owners who are expanding and continually improving it. A smallholder cultivates an area of less than 1 hectare on average, with up to 1500 trees. The coffee cherries arriving at the station are sorted by hand and then placed on raised drying beds in thin layers. The cherries are turned every 2 to 3 hours in the first few days to avoid over-fermentation and mould growth. Depending on weather conditions, 4 to 6 weeks later, the beans are transported to Addis Ababa, where the final hulling, sorting, and export preparation take place.