Wodamba, Uganda | Washed

Freshly picked cherries are pulped and submerged in water, with a portion of water from a previous fermentation introduced as a starter. This method shortens the overall fermentation time to approximately 13 to 18 hours. Once fermented, the coffee is dried on African drying beds in solar dryers and undergoes careful sorting at twelve separate stages before export. It is cultivated in Bukyabo, in the Sironko District of Eastern Uganda, at altitudes ranging from 2,000 to 2,200 meters above sea level.

In early 2017, Dana, Micheal, and Shak began discussing specialty coffee. The year prior, Dana and Shak had moved to Uganda—where Micheal is from—after Micheal and Shak completed their master's degrees at the London School of Economics. Around the same time, Dana had been setting up a specialty coffee shop with her sister in Prague. Once in Uganda, she looked into various coffee companies, hoping to work directly with farmers while prioritizing organic agriculture, coffee quality, and environmental conservation. She was struck by how few Ugandan specialty coffees appeared on the international market, so she spent time with different actors across the value chain to understand why. Observing firsthand the challenges that farmers face, she spoke at length with Micheal and Shak, whose backgrounds in development helped shape a business idea aimed at improving conditions for smallholder farmers. In mid-2017, they ran a small pilot project with one promising farming family, offering support with processing methods, training, fair loans, and above-market prices. The success of this pilot led to the foundation of The Coffee Gardens.

Wadamba John, who has worked with The Coffee Gardens for several years, has consistently shown strong dedication and meticulous attention to detail. He has one daughter, named Grace in honor of his mother, and is currently saving money to pursue training as a teacher. In his leisure time, he enjoys watching and playing football and attends to his coffee gardens, banana trees, and livestock.