Raro Boda

When Negusse Debela's company, SNAP, sought an area to produce exceptional coffee, Uraga in southern Ethiopia was the obvious choice. With elevations typically between 2,000 and 2,300 meters above sea level, Uraga offers unparalleled potential for high-quality coffee. When Negusse had the chance to invest in and manage a beautiful washing station in the Raro Boda kebele (community) at the peaks of Uraga, around 2,300 meters, it was a dream come true.

Negusse Debela didn't start his career in the coffee industry. Known in Ethiopia as a computer expert, he ran a successful computer parts import business. Coffee might not seem like a natural leap, but a trip to Minnesota changed everything for him. At a café, he tasted a pour-over that gave him an epiphany about the potential of Ethiopian coffee.

Upon returning home, Negusse began touring coffee processing sites throughout southern Ethiopia to better understand the farming and processing methods. Determined to establish SNAP as one of Ethiopia's premier coffee exporters, he set to work immediately.

Negusse has since acquired land for SNAP to process its own coffee and has expanded operations to manage processing sites in Nensebo, Yirgacheffe, and Guji. In early 2019, SNAP completed its own export dry mill, giving the company full control over its product and quality.