Ethiopia

Legesse Matisso: OCR Smallholder Series

About 

Legesse Matisso: OCR Smallholder Series

Legesse Matisso

OCR Smallholder Series 2025

  • Legesse is a second-generation coffee producer
  • His family owns the land nestled between Bensa and Nensebo districts since 1960
  • Only in 2020 they registered for their own export license

Legesse Matisso is a second-generation coffee producer who runs his farm with his wife and family of seven in Belo kebele, Chire woreda, Sidama zone. His family has owned the land since 1960, but it was only in 2020 that they registered for their own export license, hoping to gain direct access to international markets.

As coffee is their sole source of income, producing high-quality coffee and building strong trade relationships is crucial for their financial stability. Despite successfully obtaining their export license, Legesse has only managed to sell his coffee once through an international exporter to Korea and Taiwan. The majority of his coffee has been sold in the local market, often ending up in the hands of ‘agrabes’ (middlemen), where traceability is lost, and the coffee is blended with other regional lots. Legesse dreams of owning his own dry mill to have greater control over his coffee’s processing and quality.

Sidama, Chiri, Belo

Legesse’s 5.15-hectare farm, sitting at 1710 meters above sea level, is located in the Harenna Forest, one of Ethiopia’s largest and most biodiverse natural forests. The region is home to native plants and wildlife, providing an ideal agroforestry environment for coffee cultivation. His farm is located near the Hamle River, which presents great potential for washed coffee processing in the future. The area enjoys mild temperatures, ranging from 23–28°C during the day and dropping to 13°C at night, with relatively low rainfall, creating ideal conditions for drying and processing coffee.

The processing

On 120 drying beds, Legesse and his family produce 10.2 tons of export-ready coffee. Ripe cherries are carefully handpicked by the family and additional seasonal workers, then dried for 15–21 days, being turned six times daily to ensure even drying and prevent mold. To protect the coffee, Legesse uses rain covers and temperature-stabilizing techniques during the night. 

Technical

Information

Region

sidamo

Processes

Natural

Varieties

Mixed Heirloom

Altitude

1710 masl.

Producer

Legesse Matisso Naramo

Soil Type

Loam soil

The future for Legesse and his farm

With the 2025 OCR: Smallholder Series we want to link roasters and producers who are interested in direct long-term relationships. Due to transparent payment structures, we can assure all premium payments are reaching the hands of the farmer, making the impact of the relation measurable. Legesse and the other participating producers are eager to further improve quality and develop their coffee business.

Looking ahead, he aims to invest in floating tanks to improve the separation of quakers from ripe cherries, ensuring a more uniform and high-quality green coffee. With his strong dedication to quality and vision for the future, Legesse is eager to bring his coffee to the international market and establish lasting partnerships that will transform his family’s future.  As he puts it: 

“Please test my unique coffee, and we will make a better coffee future together.”

Legesse Matisso

Operation Cherry Red

Operation Cherry Red: Smallholder Series 2025 exposes unique Ethiopian smallholder coffees. By working directly with these producers, we ensure premium payments reach the right hands and trace lots back to individual families. For roasters, this is a unique chance to source coffee right at its roots—challenging the norm of sourcing from regional washing stations. By partnering with exceptional smallholders, roasters can support truly impactful, transparent, and traceable coffee supply chains. Learn more about the OCR project here or discover other participating producers below.

Find more OCR Smallholder coffees