Daye Bensa Coffee

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.

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

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

• Specialty green coffee
• Coffee export
• Coffee processing
• Direct trade coffee
• Ethiopian coffee

Headquarters

HQ city

Addis Ababa

HQ country

Ethiopia

HQ region

Africa

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. Coffee Sample Sales: Revenue from selling coffee sample sets to potential buyers - 1 set for $65, 3 sets for $100, 6 sets for $180
3. Book Sales: Sale of 'Bunna - Ethiopian Coffee: A Modern-Day Story by Daye Bensa' book for $65

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core 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

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• StarbuckscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2025Starbucks 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.
• RippleminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 March 2024Ripple 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.
• COBEANSminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 November 2020COBEANS 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

Direct 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

• Facebookfacebook.com/DayeBensaExport
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dayebensacoffee
• Instagraminstagram.com/dayebensacoffee
• Xx.com/dayebensacoffee

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Daye Bensa Coffee