Description

Bisrat Melaku is the proud owner and founder of the Uraga Bisrat washing station. While running the station, he grows Heirloom coffee on the farm he inherited from his grandparents. This lovely land sits at 2,300 masl and is surrounded by Bisana and Wanza shade trees that create a canopy above his coffee crop. Along with his wife and four kids, Bisrat tends to his farm with the utmost care. He says, “I am always at my farm. I control weeds, mow, chop, prune, add compost, avoid erosion during the rainy season, and instruct my family members to do the same.”

After successfully expanding his farm, Bisrat opened the Uraga Bisrat washing station in 2014. He installed cement fermentation tanks, a six disk pulper, and 150 drying beds. Bisrat uses water from the small Tebie River to wash and ferment his coffees. Bisrat chooses to ferment his coffee between 36 and 48 hours, depending on the weather. Wastewater treatment tanks hold the used water after processing. After washing the parchment, he sundries the coffees between 7 and 21 days. Shade nets and cloths protect the parchment from the scorching sun and possible rainy days.

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