In the far western part of Ethiopia, near the South Sudanese border, lies the beautiful West Omo zone, a land of dense, untamed jungles. From its high plateaus, you can take in sweeping views of the ancient, endless forest. Amidst this breathtaking scenery is the Gesha Village Coffee Estate, a 471-hectare farm built from the ground up over the last 11 years. This farm, a labor of love, produces coffee as extraordinary as its surroundings. Rachel Samuel, one of the farm’s founders, was born in Ethiopia. Her connection to the country deepened in 2007 when she and her partner visited to make a documentary about Ethiopia’s rich coffee culture. During this journey, they developed a passion for the country, its people, and its coffee industry, leading them to Willem Boot, a San Francisco-based coffee educator known for his expertise in the Gesha variety. Guided by Willem, they learned the art of growing and evaluating high-quality coffee, with the legendary Gesha variety becoming central to their vision.
