The Buncho washing station processes the coffee of local smallholders growing at close to 2,000 metres in the infamous Sidamo region. With more than 940 farmers harvesting very small areas, the washing station provides the infrastructure to select, separate and control all post-harvest processing. The greater collective input increases the production volume and quality, also leading to better prices for the community.
The Buncho washing station is privately owned by the Dukamo family business, Daye Bensa. This is the same supply chain that provides our signature Estate Espresso with Asefa Dukamo starting his first washing station in 1996 and now managing 20 washing stations, 5 processing mills and a network of thousands of smallholder farmers across Ethiopia. Buncho is a particularly high altitude and high quality focused station with the clarity of their washed process creating some of the most distinctive coffees in the area.

Quality coffee has acted as the stepping stone for wider improvements in the community with Daye Bensa connecting remote regions with infrastructure, education and improved incomes. Their recent placings in Cup of Excellence competitions is testament to this with Asefa’s eldest son Kenean now leading their coffee operations. Having spent an afternoon with them earlier this year it is clear that their love for coffee and their community is an infectious export.