Farm

Ye Genet

Region:
Ye Genet, Ethiopia

Washing station:
Ye Genet

Varieties:Mixed Heirloom
Altitude:1950 – 2250 m
Processes: Natural
Certifications: Non-Certified

Common cupping notes:

Lemon ,Rose hips ,Orange

About Tsegaye Hagos

Tsegaye Hagos was born in the Atsbi Wonberta woreda, between the famous rock-hewn churches of Tigray. Tigray, one of Ethiopia’s nine states, is found in the North dry and scorched lands that border Eritrea. The majority of Tigrayans are Orthodox Christian and have built their lives around religious concepts, like strict fasting, for instance. Tsegaye still considers these Northern areas as home.

Tsegaye, born in 1959, loses his parents at a young age. His older brothers and sisters take care of Tsegaye. Together, they practically raise him. Coffee has an important role in Tsegaye’s early life. The young Tigrayen even thinks about working in coffee; although the North is not suitable for quality coffee. At age 18, Tsegaye immigrates to Sudan because the political situation in Ethiopia is unstable. Like many youths in that time, he flees to a neighboring country and searches for a better future.

After 15 years in Sudan, Tsegaye returns to his birth grounds. He is involved in the import business of vehicles from the U.A.E. But the love for coffee never strays far from his mind. In 1996, a group of people start a joint venture that supplies the local market with coffee. Tsegaye joins the venture and starts his coffee career; a dream come true. However, Tsegaye is ambitious and interested in starting his own coffee company. After visiting Guji, he considers striking down in the Kercha District, Guji zone. Kercha is an area that borders Gedeo’s fruitful woreda ‘Gedeb’. Just 10 years after joining the venture, Tsgaye opens his own washing station in Kercha; Sasaba. The work at Sasaba proves to be intensive and Tsegaye is in dire need of assistance. Tsegaye’s fellow Tigrayen and childhood friend Mulu Gebreyohannes joins Sasaba as the Operation Manager.


The two make Sasaba a phenomenon in Guji. The success of Sasaba paves the road for a new washing station; Ye Genet.