ESOTERIC ORDER, Ethiopia

In the far western reaches of Ethiopia, just kilometres from the South Sudanese border, the dense, untamed jungles of the Bench Maji Zone stretch across the land in wild, verdant profusion. Here, from the heights of an expansive plateau, one may witness the majesty of an ancient, sprawling forest, an awe-inspiring landscape steeped in natural splendour. It is within this remote and breathtaking terrain that Gesha Village Coffee Estate was established, a 471-hectare farm built meticulously from the ground up over the course of six arduous years.

The estate stands not only as a feat of agricultural ambition but as a symbol of revival and vision. Situated in close proximity to the Gori Gesha forest, the birthplace of the legendary Gesha varietal and the site of its discovery in the 1930s, this location offers unparalleled access to the genetic heart of one of the world’s most prized coffee types. The untouched land presented a rare opportunity: the chance to cultivate coffee at origin, in conditions nearly identical to those in which the varietal first evolved.

A careful seed selection of wild Gesha plants was harvested directly from the Gori Gesha forest. From there, the transformation began. Month after relentless month, this isolated stretch of land was shaped into a fully operational coffee estate, capable of producing Gesha coffee of extraordinary calibre. With this, not only was a farm created, but a long-overlooked region was brought into the fold of the global specialty coffee industry. Western Ethiopia, historically disconnected from the broader market, now produces world-class coffee mere kilometres from where the Gesha varietal first emerged.

At Gesha Village Coffee, the journey from bean to cup is defined by exacting standards and unwavering dedication. The coffee is cultivated at altitudes between 1,909 and 2,070 metres above sea level, in conditions of high rainfall and temperate climate, factors that yield beans of rare complexity and refined character. These highlands do not simply support coffee growth; they elevate it, forging flavour profiles that command recognition within the specialty sphere.

Harvesting is undertaken with rigorous care. Each cherry is hand-picked at peak ripeness, an exacting and labour-intensive practice essential to preserving the integrity of the beans. This selective process minimises defects and ensures that only the finest fruit becomes part of the final lot.

The creation of Gesha Village Coffee Estate is a story marked by perseverance, innovation, and reverence for the land. And while the roots now run deep, this is only the beginning. The farm continues to honour its surroundings, not only by producing coffees that echo the majesty of the forested highlands, but by helping to reshape the future of Ethiopian specialty coffee at its very origin.

ILLUSTRATION CREDIT @canopic_ire_tattoo