Daye Bensa Coffee
Daye Bensa Coffee is an Ethiopian specialty green coffee exporter operating a vertically integrated farm-to-export model across 71 washing stations, 11 dry mills, and 2,500 member farmers, serving international specialty roasters directly with traceable single-origin and graded Ethiopian coffees.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersAddis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Daye Bensa Coffee does
Daye Bensa Coffee is an Ethiopian specialty green coffee producer, processor, and exporter operating a vertically integrated farm-to-export model. Founded in 1996 by brothers Assefa and Mulugeta Dukamo in the Bensa Sidama area, the company began exporting in 2006 and is now recognized as the 5th largest green coffee exporter in Ethiopia. Its core operations span owned farms in Shantawene, Keramo, and the Kaffa region; 71 washing stations and 11 dry mills across the Bensa, Aroressa, and Chire districts; 2,000+ fermentation tanks; and warehouse and cleaning facilities in Addis Ababa (5,000 sq. m) and Hawassa (4,400 sq. m), including a 4-ton/hr cleaning plant equipped with SATAKE color sorting technology. The company sources from a network of 2,500 out-grower member farmers and produces across four coffee grade tiers (Micro Lots scoring 88-90+, High Land Lots 87-88 from 2,200+ m altitude, Premium 85-86, and Scalable G2-G4 Sidama) and four processing methods (Washed, Natural, Honey, Anaerobic). Certifications include Organic, C.A.F.E. Practice, UTZ, and Rainforest Alliance.
Daye Bensa generates revenue primarily through direct B2B export of green coffee to international specialty roasters and importers, supplemented by sample-set sales ($65-180 per set) and book sales. The go-to-market is sales-led and event-driven, leveraging Cup of Excellence competition wins (2nd place 2022, 8th 2021, 7th 2020), origin trips for buyers, and annual Farmers' Day events. Named customers include Oakwoodroasted, Archers Coffee, GreenwayBarista, and Starbucks, with confirmed shipments to Germany and Belgium alongside broader global reach. The company reinvests heavily in farmer community programs: $1.5 million in bonus payments over 7 years, 400,000 seedlings distributed in March 2025, and over $1 million invested in 5 schools serving 1,200+ students.
The business is structured as Daye Bensa Coffee Export Plc under Ethiopian law, remains founder-owned (Dukamo family), and operates with 251-500 employees. Strategic recent moves include washing station expansion (February 2023 and November 2023), warehouse capacity upgrades, a coffee lodge development project, and a partnership with Starbucks for seedling distribution. The company faces Ethiopian regulatory dynamics including the National Bank's foreign exchange retention policy (raised to 40% in August 2023) and a 15% tax on coffee stored beyond 12 months.
Daye Bensa Coffee firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Daye Bensa Coffee
- Legal name
- Daye Bensa Coffee Export Plc
- Website
- https://dayebensacoffee.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Daye Bensa Coffee is an Ethiopian specialty green coffee exporter operating a vertically integrated farm-to-export model across 71 washing stations, 11 dry mills, and 2,500 member farmers, serving international specialty roasters directly with traceable single-origin and graded Ethiopian coffees.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Daye Bensa Coffee industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Coffee Export
- NAICS
- Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920), Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (31192)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080), Agricultural Production-Crops (100)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty Coffee & Tea (Single-Origin, Micro-lot, Premium) Processing (AFAFADAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Coffee, Tea & Cocoa Trading/Wholesale (AFAIAKAD), Coffee & Cacao Plantations (Coffee, Cocoa) (AFAGACAI), Green Coffee Processing (Hulling, Grading, Decaffeination) (AFAFADAA)
Keywords
Where Daye Bensa Coffee is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Addis Ababa
- HQ country
- Ethiopia
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices4 records
Markets served
Daye Bensa Coffee business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Green Coffee Export: Primary revenue from exporting specialty green coffee beans directly to international roasters and importers. Coffee is sourced from company-owned farms and 2500 member farmers through a direct trade model.
- Coffee Sample Sales: Revenue from selling coffee sample sets to potential buyers - 1 set for $65, 3 sets for $100, 6 sets for $180
- Book Sales: Sale of 'Bunna - Ethiopian Coffee: A Modern-Day Story by Daye Bensa' book for $65
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Single sample set (300 gram) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 3-sample set (900 gram total) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 6-sample set (1.8 kg total) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Book - Bunna Ethiopian Coffee Story |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Daye Bensa Coffee product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Daye Bensa Coffee exports Ethiopian specialty green coffee to international roasters and importers, sourcing from its own farms and a network of 2,500+ member out-grower farmers. Operations span 71 washing stations, 11 dry mills, warehouse facilities in Addis Ababa and Hawassa, and a modern coffee cleaning plant, with coffee offered in multiple grades (Micro Lots, High Land Lots, Premium, Scalable) and processing methods (washed, natural, honey, anaerobic).
Product overview
Daye Bensa Coffee is an Ethiopian specialty coffee producer, processor, and exporter operating a vertically integrated model. Its product portfolio spans four coffee grade tiers — Micro Lots (scores 88-90+), High Land Lots (87-88, from 2,200+ m altitude), Premium Coffee (85-86), and Scalable Coffee (G2-G4 Sidama) — across four processing methods: Washed, Natural, Honey, and Anaerobic. The company also retails Coffee Lot Samples (1-set, 3-set, 6-set bundles) and publishes the book 'Bunna - Ethiopian Coffee: A Modern-Day Story.' Its service infrastructure comprises 75 washing stations, 11 dry mills, warehouse and export facilities in Addis Ababa and Hawassa, a 4-ton/hr coffee cleaning plant with SATAKE color sorter, and owned farms in Bensa and Kaffa, serving a network of 2,500+ member out-grower farmers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Specialty Green Coffee (Micro Lots, High Land Lots, Premium, Scalable G2-G4) Ethiopian specialty green coffee exported to international roasters and importers in four grade tiers: Micro Lots (single-farm, scoring 88-90+), High Land Lots (sourced above 2,200 m altitude, scoring 87-88), Premium Coffee (scoring 85-86), and Scalable Coffee graded G2-G4 from the Sidama region. Available across washed, natural, honey, and anaerobic processing methods.
- Coffee Lot Samples
Quantifiable outcome
- 5th largest green coffee exporter in Ethiopia
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Daye Bensa Coffee
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Daye Bensa Coffee technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Daye Bensa Coffee partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- StarbuckscoreStarbucks partnered with Daye Bensa to distribute 400,000 coffee seedlings to farmers in March 2025. Endale Taye, Starbucks representative, highlighted the importance of teaching farmers proper care techniques including digging 60x60 cm holes for optimal root development. Starbucks provides ongoing training and monitoring support to farmers in addition to this seedling distribution initiative.
- RippleminorRipple partnered with Daye Bensa to deliver hands-on training sessions on harvest best practices and growing high-quality coffee at the first International Women's Day celebration for women farmers at Gatta Farm.
- COBEANSminorCOBEANS is financing 4 trainees in the Coffee School at Farm program at GATTA Daye Bensa Coffee farms. The program trains graduates and farmer children on coffee processing, quality control, and industry skills with certification upon completion.
Scale indicators19 records
Recent moves14 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Daye Bensa Coffee competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Yirgacheffe Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union: One of Ethiopia's largest cooperative-based coffee exporters, exporting washed and natural Yirgacheffe coffees globally. Competes with Daye Bensa for the international specialty roaster customer base with similar Ethiopian-origin product.
- Sidama Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union: Cooperative union representing Sidama coffee farmers—the same region where Daye Bensa sources the majority of its volume. Competes directly for Sidama-origin specialty market share and direct-trade relationships with international buyers.
- Trabocca: Dutch specialty green coffee importer focused on East African origins, including Ethiopia. Comparable as a specialty green coffee sourcing company serving European roasters with traceable Ethiopian lots.
- Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union (OCFCU): Large Ethiopian coffee cooperative union exporting organic and specialty coffees from multiple Ethiopian regions. Comparable as a major Ethiopian green coffee exporter serving international roasters and importers.
- Kerchanshe Trading Company: Ethiopia's largest privately-owned coffee exporter and producer. Directly comparable as a vertically integrated Ethiopian coffee exporter with washing stations, farms, and global direct-trade sales—Daye Bensa is roughly an order of magnitude smaller than Kerchanshe.
- METAD Agricultural Development: Ethiopian specialty coffee producer and exporter with washing stations, farms, and C.A.F.E. Practice/Rainforest Alliance certifications. Like Daye Bensa, METAD has Cup of Excellence history and serves international specialty roasters with direct-trade relationships.
- Hambela Coffee Estate: Ethiopian coffee producer and exporter operating estate farms and washing stations in Guji. Comparable vertically integrated model targeting the same specialty roaster customer base with award-winning Ethiopian coffees.
Regional players
- Atlas Coffee Importers: US specialty green coffee importer with significant Ethiopian-origin sourcing program. Operates as a downstream channel alternative for the same specialty roaster customers Daye Bensa targets directly.
- Royal Coffee: US specialty green coffee importer that actively sources and markets Ethiopian lots including direct-trade offerings. Comparable as a downstream buyer/competitor in the green coffee distribution channel serving roasters.
- 47 Heritage Coffee: US-based specialty green coffee importer working closely with Ethiopian origins. Comparable as a buyer-side intermediary for Daye Bensa and its competitor exporters into the North American specialty market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Daye Bensa Coffee social profiles
Digital presenceDaye Bensa Coffee compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Daye Bensa Coffee financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Daye Bensa Coffee leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Daye Bensa Coffee funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Daye Bensa Coffee M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Daye Bensa Coffee
What does Daye Bensa Coffee do?
Daye Bensa Coffee exports Ethiopian specialty green coffee to international roasters and importers, sourcing from its own farms and a network of 2,500+ member out-grower farmers. Operations span 71 washing stations, 11 dry mills, warehouse facilities in Addis Ababa and Hawassa, and a modern coffee cleaning plant, with coffee offered in multiple grades (Micro Lots, High Land Lots, Premium, Scalable) and processing methods (washed, natural, honey, anaerobic).
Is Daye Bensa Coffee a public or private company?
Daye Bensa Coffee is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Daye Bensa Coffee founded?
Daye Bensa Coffee was founded in 1996. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Daye Bensa Coffee based?
Daye Bensa Coffee is headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in the Africa region.
How does Daye Bensa Coffee make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Green Coffee Export is the primary driver. The others are coffee Sample Sales and book Sales.
Who are Daye Bensa Coffee's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Yirgacheffe Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union, Sidama Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union, Trabocca, Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union (OCFCU), Kerchanshe Trading Company, METAD Agricultural Development and Hambela Coffee Estate. Regional players are Atlas Coffee Importers, Royal Coffee and 47 Heritage Coffee.
Does Daye Bensa Coffee have an API?
No public API is recorded for Daye Bensa Coffee.
What industry is Daye Bensa Coffee in?
Daye Bensa Coffee's product category is Specialty Coffee Export. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFADAJ, Specialty Coffee & Tea (Single-Origin, Micro-lot, Premium) Processing, with a secondary code of AFAIAKAD, Coffee, Tea & Cocoa Trading/Wholesale. Its NAICS code is 311920 and its SIC code is 2080.