
The Morke Natural lot comes from the Morke Drying Station, to which around 1,000 farmers contribute, and it is located in Sidama Bura, Ethiopia (Morke is the name of the “woreda”). The contributing producers grow the heirloom 74158 variety at an average altitude of 2,300+ m.a.s.l., which is among the highest coffee-growing altitudes in the world!
Once cherries arrive at the station, they sort them so only the ripest of cherries are used for this Natural lot. The cherries are then spread on African raised beds without any fermentation, drying slowly under the sun for 18 to 20 days. During this time, workers turn the cherries every 30 to 60 minutes during initial drying, conduct visual defect removal, and shelter beds from midday heat or rain. On top of that, moisture levels are checked daily to ensure even drying.
Karamo Coffee was founded in 2020 by Niguse Gemeda, a farmer who grew up in the coffee-rich landscapes of Bensa and Bura with over 25 years of experience as a commercial coffeer supplier, until 2015, when he pivoted towards specialty coffee.
In 2020, Niguse participated in Ethiopia’s inaugural Cup of Excellence—and won first place with a natural lot scoring 91.04, named “KARAMO.”
This triumph inspired the company’s name and mission: bridging Sidama’s generational farmers with specialty coffee. Karamo trains station workers in precision drying and defect removal while supporting smallholders through knowledge sharing on organic practices and selective harvesting.
We began working with Karamo Coffee in 2025, and their dedication to quality and consistency has us thrilled for what is to come.



