Coffee Description
NOTES: orange candy, molasses, chocolate, black
currant, sage honey, pumpkin puree.
“GENALEM GEWYERO” – GOD IS GOOD! -
This is the motto which hangs on the entrance to Dinkalem’s dry mill, across the road
from the Wush Wush washing station.
Dinkalem’s washing station is one of the most cheerful we get to visit each year, with smiling faces all around, clean facilities, and a well-organized production flow. Dinkalem. himself is a short, cheerful man who’s proud of all he’s accomplished in partnership with his wife, Sofia, for the area. Together they are a kind of power couple: she organizes charitable work such as educational sessions for children and food distribution to disenfranchised Keffa people, and he runs the coffee business in two locations (one in Wush Wush and one in Dinbira for washed and natural processed).
hey live in the town of Wush Wush in a rambling house that seems mostly hallways and surprising corners. Sofia is known for her kirkele, or lamb stew, which is the best we’ve ever tasted—it’s all savory chunks of stewed lamb so tender it drips off the spoon, gleaming fatty, buttery broth, and surprising layers of flavor that just keep revealing themselves on the tongue. They have 6 children, who love to play vigorous hide-and- seek with our daughter.
Dinkalem is proud to produce mostly very high-end coffee. His washing station in Wush Wush is 6 years old this season and sits on two hectares, with long drying beds stretching to the far reaches of the property, which is bordered by the glorious forests so characteristic of Kaffa. Dinkalem has a four-disk Agard pulper with two repasser disks, which receives regular maintenance. The nearby Agama River provides water for washing through the serpentine channels at Dinkalem’s washing station; after coffees have been pulped, fermented, and washed, they are placed on the drying beds to reach
optimal moisture content. The drying beds are composed of plastic and wire mesh on local tree materials, and parchment is typically dried at a depth of approximately 2 cm. The workers at the washing station carefully stir, hand-pick defects, and cover the parchment multiple times a day depending on sun or rain. Once they’ve reached optimal moisture content, the
parchment is moved to the storage shed which is clean and made from sheet metal as is customary in the area. Dinkalem religiously prohibits shoes, perfume, and any food or beverages in the storage shed. Once he’s ready to transport the coffee, Dinkalem loads it in trucks and takes it to the warehouse in nearby Bonga, where it is analyzed by officials and registered with a grade. At that point it is then trucked to Addis Ababa. We’ve worked with Dinkalem’s coffee for 5 seasons now. Each year it delivers characteristic lush fruit and very sweet qualities.
Roast Level from the Roaster
Refers to the roast level in comparison with other coffees from the roaster
Light
Variety
Process
Washed
Region
Kaffa
About Dinkalem Ademe of Ethiopia
Owner: Dinkalem Ademe
General Manager: Dinkalem Ademe
Assistant Manager: Shimelis Ademe
Mechanic: Endalem Wedajo (4+ experience)
Coffee Varieties: 75/210 and 74/212, smaller quantities of 74/110 and 74/165 and local
Landrace varieties, naturally adapted from the Wush Wush variety
Demographics:
Local people group name: Keffa
Local languages(s): Keficho or Kefinya
Local name for area: Agama, named for the Agama River, which is the water source for the washing station.
Kaffa, 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.
