Layo Teraga

Founded in 1976, Layo Teraga is an independent cooperative in northern Uraga, in Ethiopia’s Guji zone. It connects 1,841 smallholder farmers with buyers in a region where limited market access has historically kept coffee prices below those in neighboring Gedeo and Sidama.

Members grow coffee in partially shaded gardens around their homes at elevations above 2,200 meters, with some gardens reaching beyond 2,300 meters. We’re drawn to Layo Teraga’s independence because it gives the cooperative more control over how it sells its coffee and how quality premiums reach its members.

If you’ve ever wondered what we mean when we describe high-elevation coffee as bright, intense, and sweet, Layo Teraga is a great example. We’re excited to bring it back to the Coffee Commissary menu for a second time.