apricot.

The washing station Lalesa located in Gedeb was purchased by Ephtah in 2023.
This station is located at 2200 m.a.s.l. and is a 3.5-hectare area where 400 raised
beds are installed. Ephtah empowers women by a series of initiatives including
education, financial knowledge, financing and strengthening the female coffee
community leadership.

Coffee farmers grow mainly heirloom varieties. These coffees are cultivated at
2150 to 2200 m.a.s.l in Lalesa, Gedeb. Individual coffee growers pick the cherries
and transport them directly to the washing stations. The farmer is paid
immediately for their cherries on delivery.

This coffee is a natural, which means that the whole ripe cherries were left to dry
with its skin and mucilage attached. The coffee is sundried for 15 days until it
achieves the ideal moisture resulting in a sweeter and fruitier cup profile.

Ephtah supports children from the local community via their Ama Commitment scheme in which a portion of proceeds from the sale of their coffees goes towards funding community projects that support children. This year, the scheme has renovated the local daycare that they established in 2023, located near the Lalesa site.