Tracon Idido

This lot originates from the plantations of the Idido micro-region of Yirgacheffe district in the center of the Gedeo zone in southwestern Ethiopia. This area is famous for its high-quality coffee, which is achieved thanks to the warm tropical climate, fertile soils and high altitude, more than 2000 m.a.s.l. Because of this height, the local coffee qualifies as Strictly High Grown (SHG) / Strictly Hard Bean (SHB). This means that the berries ripen more slowly, giving the tree extra time to saturate the coffee cherries nutrients and the development of bright flavors. As in most regions, the basis of the market in Gedeo is small owners. There are more than 25,000 farmers who grow coffee on plantations of 0.5-2 hectares. The territory is dominated by both equatorial and monsoon trade winds, as well as the bimodal nature of precipitation. A short wet season, which lasts from March to May, is followed by a short dry period before the main one the rainy season from July to December.

The average monthly temperature is 20 – 23 °C, precipitation – 1800 – 2000 mm. The soil is loamy with good drainage. The Yirgacheffe Idido Coffee Station is owned by Tracon Trading, a company that has been exporting coffee for three decades and now operates several of its own farms and processing stations. At the Idido station, they process beans from over 452 local farmers. Farms in Yirgacheffe are mostly wild, with a prevalence of the endemic Heirloom varieties. The average plantation size is about 2.4 hectares, and they are often referred to as forest or garden farms, meaning they are situated around the farmers’ homes. Common shade trees in the area include Cordia Africana and Acacia Ensete. Tracon works hard to preserve the natural forests in these areas and to create conditions that allow for living in harmony with the surrounding environment.

Credit: FestCoffeeMission