Danche

The small village of Danche is a sub-kebele (community) within Worka Chelbessa, located in Gedeb at the southernmost tip of the Gedeo region. Over the past decade, Worka Chelbessa has gained recognition for producing exceptional coffees, making it a prime destination for coffee entrepreneur Neguesse Debela when he began his journey in the coffee industry.

In 2017, Neguesse established his first coffee site in Worka Chelbessa. By 2019, he expanded his operations, acquiring a second washing station just a few kilometers away in Danche, a smaller community within the same region. Together with his family, Neguesse runs both sites, which are renowned for producing meticulously crafted washed and natural-processed coffees. They also take innovation seriously, experimenting with unique processing methods to consistently elevate the quality of their coffee.

The Danche washing station employs Ethiopia’s traditional underwater fermentation method, a time-honored technique that enhances the coffee’s unique flavors. In this process, coffee is fully submerged in water for 36 to 48 hours, though the duration can extend depending on specific conditions. Once fermentation is complete, the coffee is dried on raised beds for 10 to 14 days, ensuring optimal quality and consistency.