Ethiopia - Elto Coffee - Bona Zuria Natural

Founded by Eliyas Dukamo and Atiklit Dejene, Elto Coffee redefines specialty coffee with a focus on single-farmer and micro-lot production, ensuring exceptional care at every stage. By concentrating on individual producers within specific regions, they craft exclusive nano-lots that capture the essence of the terroir and the hard work behind every bean.Eliyas and Atiklit view harvesting as an art, managing targeted clusters of trees and perfecting the timing of the picking process. This precision allows them to unlock the full potential of each coffee, crafting distinct micro-lots that meet the highest standards of quality. Their expertise is rooted in practical experience—Eliyas served as Operations Manager at Daye Bensa Coffee, and Atiklit honed her skills at Gesha Village and Daye Bensa’s microlot lab. Together, they built Elto Coffee as a sustainable and collaborative brand, working closely with local farmers to bring exceptional coffee to the global stage.Elto Coffee's primary focus is Gango Village, located in the fertile Sidama Bensa highlands at 2,300 masl. This region is renowned for its organic, sugar-rich coffee cherries cultivated alongside bananas and enset, which contribute to a sustainable ecosystem. With 600 smallholder farmers, the area produces coffee with inherently complex and fruity profiles. Before working with Elto Coffee, many farmers lacked access to modern post-harvest practices. Under Eliyas and Atiklit’s guidance, they’ve adopted innovative techniques that maximize the potential of their coffee.The selective handpicking of the ripest cherries ensures that only the finest fruit is harvested. Once picked, the cherries are spread thinly on African raised beds, where airflow and controlled drying help lock in their natural sweetness. Stirred regularly during the 21 to 27-day drying process, the cherries reach the perfect 11% moisture.