Bekele Yutute

Variety 74158 grown by 4th place COE winner (2024), Bekele Yutute, on his farm in Bensa, Sidama. Processed as a traditional natural, whole fruit dried on raised beds allowing yeasts time to transform them.

Bekele Yutute grows primarily 74158, a common and adaptive landrace that does well in Bensa. 74158 is also the primary variety at his other drying station near Dembe, where he was born. Bekele produces dry processed coffee at his Kokose site, which he purchased in 2019. He used to sell coffee to local suppliers before obtaining his export license in 2021, exclusively producing dry processed coffees (traditional naturals and anaerobics) for export to the U.S. and Korean specialty markets (and by proxy to us in Canada).

In the most recent Cup of Excellence Ethiopia competition in 2024 (there wasn’t one this year), Bekele’s coffee scored an impressive 89.86, earning him fourth place.