Ethio Catalyst: Elevating Bensa’s Potential.

Introduction

Since the 2013/14 harvest, Ethio Catalyst has contributed to raising international recognition for the distinctive quality of coffees from Bensa, while respecting the long-standing knowledge and practices of local smallholder producers. The company works closely with these producers, reinforcing and refining established methods such as selective hand-picking of ripe cherries and traditional drying techniques. Bensa’s high altitudes, fertile soils, and favorable climate play a key role in shaping coffees that are celebrated for their clarity, complexity, and vibrant flavor profiles.

How it Started

Ethio Catalyst is a specialized team of six coffee professionals led by Zelalem Birma and operating out of Addis Ababa and Bensa, Sidama. With 18 years of combined experience in the Ethiopian coffee import and export sector, Zelalem has focused intensely on the Bensa region since 2018. During this time, he has cultivated deep relationships with local producers and expanded his expertise in experimental processing methods significantly. The small team is composed of three processing experts, a logistics coordinator, a lab manager, and Zelalem, who serves as the CEO, relationship manager, and accountant. Their core business strategy is exporting small volumes of high-end microlots and nanolots, primarily sourced from Bensa, Sidama.

Their approach and philosophy

A few years ago, while searching for a strong Ethiopian partner with a shared vision, Apex Coffee Imports meticulously visited multiple sites and met with exporters of various sizes.

The Ethio Catalyst team stood out for their strong commitment to quality and their evident passion for their craft and the people they work with. These values closely align with those of Apex. Working with Ethio Catalyst provides a significant advantage, particularly through a tight feedback loop and the flexibility to experiment with specific processing methods tailored precisely to defined quality and client requirements.