Coffee production in Ethiopia

Ethiopian Christians refrained from drinking coffee due to its perceived association with Muslims until the 19th century.

In 2008, The Ethiopia Commodity Exchange (ECX) launched to ensure the development of the efficient trade of crops, which quickly expanded to include coffee.

[12] The major markets for Ethiopian coffee are the EU (about half of exports), East Asia (about a quarter) and North America.

[15]The revenues from coffee exports account for 10% of the annual government revenue, because of the large share the industry is given very high priority, but there are conscious efforts by the government to reduce the coffee industry's share of the GDP by increasing the manufacturing sector.

This is a legacy from a nationalization scheme set in action by the previous regime that turned over all the washing stations to farmers cooperatives.

[17] Ethiopian coffee beans of the species Coffea arabica can be divided into three categories: Longberry, Shortberry, and Mocha.

Sidamo coffee is well-balanced with cupping notes exhibiting berries and citrus with complex acidity.

The coffee hails from the province of Sidamo in the Ethiopian highlands at elevations from 1,500 up to 2,200 meters above sea level.

Here the Ethiopian coffees grow more slowly and therefore have more time to absorb nutrients and develop more robust flavors based on the local climate and soil conditions.

The most distinctive flavour notes found in all Sidamo coffees are lemon and citrus with bright crisp acidity.

Like most African coffees, Ethiopia Guraferda features a small and greyish bean, yet is valued for its deep, spice and wine or chocolate-like taste and floral aroma.

Not cultivated nor maintained, the coffee grows wild in the middle of deep forests, between 1,400 to 2,100 meters above sea level.

Temperature increases are directly correlated with invasive pests and disease development, both of which can cause production lost when disregarded.

The growing length of the dry season decreases the amount of rainfall in Ethiopian forests where coffee is grown.

[23] Facing more than 92,000 letters of concern, Starbucks had placed pamphlets in its stores accusing Oxfam of "misleading behavior" and insisting that its "campaign need[s] to stop".

On 7 November, The Economist derided Oxfam's "simplistic" stance and Ethiopia's "economically illiterate" government, arguing that Starbucks' (and Illy's) standards-based approach would ultimately benefit farmers more.

A Starbucks spokesman said the announcement is "another development" in the relationship with Ethiopia and a way to raise the profile of Ethiopian coffee around the world.