How We're Protecting Ethiopia's Rainforest with Wild Coffee
Why Our Commitment Is Crucial
The mountain rainforest in Kaffa, in southwestern Ethiopia, is one of the world’s most pristine ecosystems—and is home to Coffea arabica. This unique genetic diversity forms the foundation for sustainable coffee worldwide. At the same time, the rainforest is under severe threat, and with it, the future of high-quality Arabica coffee.
- Ethiopia's forest cover: Shrunk from 40% to 2.7%
- Only 200,000 ha of intact rainforest remain in Kaffa
- Global Genetic Resource Center for Coffee
- Deforestation Threatens Biodiversity, the Climate, and Livelihoods
Our Approach: Sustainable Coffee Protects the Rainforest
Kaffa Wild Coffee embodies a model that combines ecology and economics. The coffee grows wild in Ethiopia’s rainforest and is harvested without human intervention. The result is sustainable coffee that preserves the forest rather than replacing it.
- Income from wild harvesting rather than plantation farming
- No additional land use at the expense of the rainforest
- Economic Incentives for Long-Term Forest Conservation
Environmental Impact
The rainforest endures because it remains untouched. This principle protects natural diversity and preserves one of the most important ecosystems for sustainable coffee.
- Protecting the Last Mountain Rainforests in Kaffa (Ethiopia)
- Preservation of wild Arabica populations
Certified organic wild harvest without intervention - Contributing to Climate Protection Through CO₂ Storage
Sip for Seed – Bale Mountains
Through Sip for Seed, we are expanding our impact beyond Kaffa and are also working in the Bale Mountains to promote wild coffee as a sustainable source of income. At the same time, we are making targeted investments in additional, climate-resilient farming systems to strengthen local communities.
For every package of Bale Mountains Wild Coffee sold, CHF 1.00 goes toward the cultivation of climate-resilient macadamia trees, creating an additional source of income alongside wild coffee.
Fair & Social
Sustainable coffee is effective only if it creates opportunities for local people. Kaffa Wildkaffee secures incomes and strengthens the local economy—right at the source.
- 8,000 farming families directly involved
- More than 100,000 people benefit in total
- Stable Income from Natural Resources
- Fair and long-term trade relations
Our mission is to make sustainable coffee from Ethiopia’s rainforest a reality while preserving biodiversity and securing livelihoods. We combine environmental responsibility with entrepreneurial action—throughout the entire value chain.
Mission & Responsibility
In our production process, we consistently rely on organic and responsibly sourced raw materials. We operate in a resource-efficient and environmentally friendly manner throughout processing, packaging, and transportation. As a result, we generally avoid the use of aluminum and use recyclable packaging materials whenever possible.
Transparency and quality are central to this: The origin of Kaffa Wildkaffee and all our products is traceable back to their source, and we work closely with our producers on a long-term basis. A portion of our economic success flows directly back into the region, strengthening local structures and infrastructure. We also take responsibility toward our employees—through fair working conditions, an open corporate culture, and clear, verifiable standards.
"Kaffa Wildkaffee stands for sustainable coffee from the Ethiopian rainforest—and for a real impact on nature, people, and the future of coffee."
