Bekele Utute, Kokose, Natural, Grade 1

Born into a family of coffee growers in Dembe, Bekele Yutute has grown into one of Ethiopia’s most recognized independent exporters. After years selling cherry to local suppliers, he purchased the Kokose site in 2019, where his brother-in-law now manages the farm and his nephew Samuel oversees the drying station. Together they produced the 2021 Cup of Excellence 5th place lot that carried Samuel’s name, establishing Bekele as a name to watch.

Since then, Bekele has built a reputation for precision in dry processed coffees—traditional naturals and anaerobics—from Kokose and his home community of Dembe. He works primarily with the 74158 variety, common to quality-focused farms in Bensa, and his attention to detail has made him a reliable source of clean, expressive profiles year after year.

In 2024 he was again recognized nationally, placing among the winners in the Cup of Excellence competition alongside other key producers in our network. Today, Bekele stands as both a benchmark for consistency and a leading example of Ethiopia’s next generation of smallholder-exporters—producers who have transitioned from supplying the local market to building direct, lasting connections with roasters abroad.