Coffee Description
limoncello, ginger ale, watermelon soda, freesia, candied grapefruit, kumquat.
Roast Level from the Roaster
Refers to the roast level in comparison with other coffees from the roaster
Light
Variety
Ethiopian Sidamo
Process
Washed
Elevation
2100-2200 masl
Region
Sidama
About Demeka Becha of Ethiopia
Demeka Becha - Bona Zuria, Sidama
Owner: Ayele Tulu
General Manager: Alemu Gobaro
Assistant Manager: Yohannis Tulu
Industry Manager: Mansesha Kekabo
Daily Labor Manager: Gebre Garo
Coffee varieties: 74/158, 74/165; 74/112; 74/110; and 74/40
Special Prep Washed Day Lots
DEMEKA BECHA WASHING STATION
Demeka Becha site is situated at the top of a hill, which is ideal for air flow along the drying beds. You enter through tin gates which open onto lush green grass and, if you’re lucky, smiling day laborers lined up clapping and whistling their excitement at your visit.
The Demeka Becha site is owned by Ayele Tulu, a Sidama man who is deeply integrated into the local area of Bona Zuria where he has a few sites. His son Tsegab Ayele, who speaks fluent English and is eagerly involved with coffee culture globally through social media, is his right hand and manages the project. Tsegab’s younger brother Abinet (still in college but
clearly on route to joining the family business) is responsible for photography and making sure that his dad has a chair and is comfortable.
The heart, perhaps the true engine, of the family is Genet Haile Endeshow, Tsegab’s mother and Ayele’s wife. She fills up their lives and the home with her warmth, and her embrace expands to include everyone who has the privilege of working with the family and their coffee producing sites. She’ll make you a killer doro wat or chicken stew, which is served to honor guests in Ethiopia, and follow it up with traditional Ethiopian buna (coffee), served on her porch below the flowering vines that shade it even in the heat of midday.
Demeka Becha site pulls cherries from nearby communities including Dilla Suke, Demeka, Goacho, Becha, and Bashiro Dale—close to 10,000 producers are situated in the areas surrounding the washing station. Producers bring their cherries to be weighed on the characteristic blue scale, logged in the book by Cashier and General Manager, Alemu Gobaro, and floated before being dumped into the cement hopper to begin the journey through the 4-disk Agard pulper and into fermentation tanks and cement washing channels. There are 10 tanks for density grades 1 and 2, and 2 tanks for low density coffee destined for our Community Lot program if it meets our standard, or for the local market. Following fermentation and washing, the parchment coffee is carried by hand to the drying beds where laborers spread it out to the depth of a fingertip and keep it turning until it is dried and moved to the locked storehouse to await trucking to Addis Ababa and final processing.
Sidama, Ethiopia
Tilly's Coffee
Tilly's Coffee, formerly known as Theodore's Coffee, is a small-batch roasting company led by Darwin Pavon, a Honduran coffee grower. Our journey began more than two decades ago when we discovered the world of premium coffee and the diverse range of varieties available in the market. Theodore's Coffee was established to bridge the gap between growers and discerning consumers, aiming to address the inequalities prevalent in the coffee industry and secure better returns for growers.
Over the years, we have experienced remarkable growth and recently celebrated five years of roasting excellence in the United States. Our roastery is located in Owosso, Michigan, a charming community adorned with captivating historic landmarks. As a company, we take pride in directly importing 90% of our coffees from dedicated growers in Central America, while the remaining 10% is sourced through our valued partner, CATALYST CONSULTING, who provides us with exceptional Ethiopian coffees.
Our unwavering commitment lies in meticulously roasting each small batch with an unwavering passion, fueled by our curiosity to understand how every customer savors their cup of coffee. Our core values serve as the guiding principles that shape our business:
QUALITY: We meticulously source, roast, and deliver the finest coffees from exceptional farms across the globe.
PEOPLE: We deeply value the hands that contribute to our business, from the growers to our cherished customers, as well as our friends and family.
INTEGRITY: Upholding the highest standards of integrity is paramount to us. We engage exclusively with like-minded companies and individuals who share our commitment to ethical business practices.
For further information or any inquiries, we encourage you to reach out to us at info@theodorescoffee.com. We are delighted to provide you with more insights and answer any questions you may have.
