Tabe Burka, Ethiopia

Uraga coffee takes its name from the district where it is grown, within Ethiopia’s renowned Guji appellation. Coffee cultivation here has deep historical roots, with farmers practicing a traditional polyculture system that integrates coffee trees with food crops on the same fertile highland plots. This approach not only sustains biodiversity but also preserves the cultural heritage of coffee in the region.
Tadesse Edema, a native of Guji, is a pioneering figure in Uraga’s coffee community. In 2008, he established the Tabe Burka washing station, one of the first in the area, significantly improving local coffee processing infrastructure. Beyond his role as a producer, Tadesse is a community leader, contributing to the construction of schools and roads. He also owns two farms - one in Shakiso and another in Anasora.
During the decade when the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange restricted direct exports, his coffees were delivered to regional warehouses, where full traceability was lost making today’s direct relationships and transparent sourcing even more valuable.