From Ethiopia’s biosphere reserve: a specialty coffee legacy of nature and community

She champions community, biodiversity, and exceptional quality, ensuring Ethiopian coffee thrives for future generations.

In the heart of Ethiopia's Kafa biosphere reserve, Dahab Specialty Coffee is more than just a coffee farm – it’s a commitment to preserving biodiversity, supporting the local community, and honouring the cultural heritage of coffee.

Founded by Dehab Mesfin, Dahab Specialty Coffee has become a respected name in Ethiopia's coffee industry, driven by Dehab’s passion to combine sustainable farming with high-quality specialty coffee.

‘It was a forest when we started, and we didn’t know about the biosphere reserve. The local rule is simple: don’t cut the big trees – it’s environmentally friendly. I consulted an agronomist and joined every training I could find on coffee farming, cupping, and roasting. I knew nothing at first, but I learned to make this business thrive.’

Supported by the International Trade Centre (ITC) under the Netherlands Trust Fund V (NTFV) programme, Dehab is expanding her influence and promoting Ethiopian coffee globally.

Rooted in heritage: Kafa’s role in safeguarding coffee’s future

The Kafa region is often referred to as the birthplace of Arabica coffee, and its designation as Ethiopia’s first UNESCO-protected biosphere reserve reinforces its importance in preserving the genetic diversity of Arabica coffee.

This status adds unique value to the coffee grown in the region. As Dehab explains: ‘We have this special coffee because the biosphere is here. If we lose our forests, we lose our coffee.’

Her farm has a protected area within the reserve, where wild coffee plants thrive alongside a range of flora and fauna, reflecting her commitment to the environment she calls home.

Dahab Specialty Coffee is a key player in the local community, employing up to 350 people during peak harvest season, over 65% of whom are women. This community-centric approach is also reflected in her collaboration with Bonga University, the only institution in Ethiopia with a dedicated coffee, tea, and spice institute.

The university supports research on coffee varieties and disease management, developing local expertise and ensuring the preservation of Kafa’s natural resources. The partnership between Dahab Specialty Coffee and Bonga University fosters a culture of knowledge-sharing and sustainable practices, which Dehab passes on to her employees.

Brewing gold: Dehab’s journey to global markets and sustainable impact

With ITC’s support, Dehab has expanded her expertise in roasting, cupping, supply chain management, and packaging. This has allowed her to reach international markets, including through events like the Intra-African Trade Fair in Cairo. There, she made a commercial partnership with a Ghanaian chocolatier – a beautiful example of intra-African value addition.

‘Straight away, I wanted to produce exceptional coffees that reflect the love and dedication of our community,’ says Dehab, who has recently begun selling her coffee in the United Arab Emirates, branding it as ‘gold’, a reference to the name Dahab, which means ‘gold’ in Arabic.

Beyond coffee, Dehab’s commitment to environmental stewardship includes bee pollination initiatives, which enhance coffee production by 23% and contribute to preserving Ethiopia’s unique biodiversity.

‘I’m coming into their home,’ she says of the wildlife within her farm’s boundaries. ‘We need to protect these plants and animals, letting them flourish.’

In Ethiopia, under the same NTF V programme, ITC is working on closing the gap between coffee farmer cooperatives and the tech sector. One pilot project matches a farmer cooperative union with tech company AgUnity to develop cooperative management systems that also target compliance with EU legislations. GPS is a key tool to comply with the EU’s regulation on deforestation-free products, and the GPS coordinates of 3,000 farmers from four primary cooperatives have been registered to date. Inspired by this work, Dehab is also trying to get all her farmers GPS-registered.

With ITC’s ongoing partnership, Dahab Specialty Coffee exemplifies how specialty coffee can preserve heritage, support community, and lead sustainability efforts. For Dehab, every cup of her coffee embodies this vision, connecting Ethiopia’s ancient coffee culture to a sustainable future.