Quality in Ethiopia: From Regional vision to local expertise

Quality at Volcafe is a journey of continuous alignment. Following the Regional Quality Workshop in Nairobi, Kenya, our team in Ethiopia is turning shared knowledge into better support for our coffee partners.

Quality is never a static goal; it is a language that must be spoken fluently across every office and origin. This principle of "cascading knowledge" was the driving force behind a recent internal training session held at Volcafe’s representative office in Addis Abeba. Inspired by the insights gathered at the East African Regional Quality Workshop last November, the session focused on sharpening sensorial descriptions, reinforcing cupping protocol best practices,  and ensuring our local team is aligned with global standards.

Scaling expertise in Addis Abeba

Led by Solomon Teklemariam, Volcafe Ethiopia's Quality Manager, the training translated high-level regional objectives into practical, hands-on learning. By moving beyond theory and into the cupping lab, the session empowered participants to explore the nuances of coffee quality more deeply.

The training focused on three critical areas of development:

• Precision in analysis: Participants engaged in cupping exercises designed to identify how specific variables – such as roast profiles, grind levels, and post-harvest processes – directly impact the final cup.
• Operational alignment: By refining sensorial descriptions, the team ensures that communication with global colleagues and clients remains consistent, transparent, and accurate.
• Cross-functional interaction: The session broke down silos, allowing colleagues from different roles to exchange ideas and strengthen their shared understanding of the coffee business.

Impact on the ground

For the participants, the value of the training was immediate. Described as engaging and insightful, the session provided the technical tools necessary to improve daily workflows and client relations. More importantly, it fostered a stronger sense of team cohesion.

As Volcafe continues to embed quality throughout the value chain, initiatives like the Addis Abeba workshop ensure that our expertise remains as rich and diverse as the coffees we handle every day.