Haro Wachu

Our Story

The Haro Natural coffee is produced at the Haro Wachu washing station in Uraga, Guji, within the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. This area is often mistakenly called Sidamo Guji, but it should be known only as Guji Zone or East-Guji. Approximately 20 farmers who deliver cherries to this drying station come from the village of Haro, and their farms are located between 2,100 and 2,350 m.a.s.l.
Sookoo Coffee, run by Ture Waji, also known as “The King of Guji,” processed this coffee. Ture and his company have other drying stations in Uraga and Shaakkiso, but all currently produce only natural coffees. Washed coffees are planned for upcoming harvests. Ture has strong ties to the land, the community, and the farmers, having grown up in the region.
Sookoo Coffee’s strict drying protocols are one reason for the quality of their lots. They maintain a maximum layer density of 4 cm and move the cherries on the beds six times a day, reducing the risk of “over-fermentation” during drying and potential defects. The standard drying time for their coffee is 21-28 days.
Between harvests, Ture and his team educate farmers on good agricultural practices to improve the quality of their cherries. His company also provides pre-harvest loans to farmers who need them, for instance, to pay for hired labor for maintenance on the farm, such as weeding and planting. The company employs a “woman-first” policy at the drying stations and has constructed a school for the children. They have also built roads to improve the infrastructure in the region.