This natural lot was produced by Butara Gambo on his family’s farm in the Aroresa District of Sidama. Butara is a second generation farmer who inherited his farm from his parents and has spent over 10 years cultivating coffee on this land. Alongside coffee, Butara also grows bananas, false bananas, and avocados, but whereas these plants act as a source of food, coffee is a cash crop that is a source of income for Butara and his family.

The coffee was harvested between October and December and was processed at Qinqamo drying station. There, the cherries are hand sorted, then dried on raised African beds. As these beds are outdoors, weather conditions have to be carefully monitored, the drying cherries need to be covered overnight and during rain or intense midday sun. Afterwards, the dried cherries are hulled and then sorted into grades. 

This specific lot of cherries took between 12 and 15 days to be dried to satisfaction. 

Butara's coffee is exported by Mecota Trading, a coffee exporting company that works with smallholder coffee farmers in Ethiopia, paying them premium prices for their green and parchment coffees.

Established in 2023, Mecota was created with the goal of supporting smallholder coffee farmers by purchasing and consolidating their microlots into lots that are viable for export. Mecota is eager to work with people who value transparent, traceable trade, and knowing more about those who grow and process the coffee they drink.

As a young company, Mecota’s current aim is to gain secure financing so that they can continue to pay the farmers they work with the best possible prices for their coffee. Mecota's long term goal is to establish their own community washing and drying station in a location that’s central to all of their farmers.

At the moment, Mecota Trading works with 10 farmers in different regions of Ethiopia. Mecota offers their farmers support during processing, providing information and guidance on techniques to produce specialty quality coffee. In addition to that, Mecota is hoping to be able to offer farmers pre-financing, so that they can focus on cultivating exceptional coffees without having to worry about money.