Lekempti (Nekempt) Coffee - Ethiopia

Ethiopia, the homeland of Arabica coffee, might only produce 3-4% of the worldâ??s coffee supply, but the variety of character that comes from this origin is astounding. Out of the many coffee-growing districts in the country, a few stand out from the crowd with their highly distinctive cup profiles. Among these is Lekempti, which gets its name from the market town of Nekemte, where all of the coffee grown in the area passes through. Nekemteâ??s location as a trading hotspot is ideal. The bustling city sits at the center of the road network that spans southwestern Ethiopia and connects Nekemte with Gimbi, another region celebrated for its unique coffee characteristics.

Many much-loved Ethiopian coffees are known for their bright acidity, but Lekempti coffee is appreciated for its smoother acidity, balance, and delicate fruit flavors. Lekempti coffee is primarily cultivated in Welega, a province to the west of Addis Ababa, where coffee is mostly grown in a forest or semi-forest land and naturally processed. The majority of the population in Welega is of the Oromo ethnic group, recognized as the first people to cultivate coffee, and has a long history with the plant that intertwines deeply with Oromo culture.

Lekempti is a name assigned to all coffees traded through the market town of Nekemte, found in Southwestern Ethiopia. It is located in the East Wellega Zone of the Oromia Region, where coffee is mostly grown in a forest or semi-forest land and naturally processed. Grown between 1500-1800 meters above sea level, the coffee is mainly known for its pleasant fruity flavor and bold bean size. It is appreciated for its smoother acidity, balance, and delicate fruit flavors.