2/5/24 Update - Keffa Coffees Demonstrate Volatility

Last week Zele visited to pull the took the final round of samples before we moved those lots to Addis Ababa for export processing and shipping. When he checked their parameters, we discovered the unhappy news that without exception, every single lot had risen in moisture content and water activity. This is due to more rain than usual and higher ambient humidity affecting the coffees, most of which were in storehouses and a few of which were finishing on the drying beds. Rain and moisture are constant in Keffa, which contains the Keffa Biosphere Reserve. Try as we might, we still can’t control the weather!

Tough stuff. This late in the harvest, we all know what the coffees being out of spec means: shelf life for those coffees drops along with cup score, even if they can be redried. The coffees will be sold on the local market, even the 3-bag lots of Limited Oxygen, even the single fermentation tank/day lot Coffee Cherry Co-Ferment, and even the Red and Black Honey!