Ayla Shantawene
Ayla Shantawene
| country | Ethiopia |
|---|---|
| region | Sidamo |
| farm | various small-holders |
| producer | Testi Coffee |
| altitude | 1950-2150 masl |
| varietal | 74110 & 74158 |
| process | natural |
| notes | tropical, peach, caramel |
| profile | tropical, sweet, creamy |
| importer | Common Goal |
Nestled in the highlands of Sidama, just south of the village of Shantawene, the Ayla Shantawene Washing Station is surrounded by rolling grasslands, winding rivers, and an ideal climate for producing expressive Ethiopian coffees. Cool temperatures, steady airflow, and elevations above 2,000 metres allow cherries to mature slowly, creating exceptional sweetness and complexity.
Owned by Testi Coffee, the washing station works with approximately 725 organic smallholder farming families who cultivate coffee on small plots of land. During harvest, only fully ripe cherries are accepted before being carefully hand sorted and placed on raised drying beds. Over the next 15–20 days, the coffee is turned and sorted by hand, allowing it to dry slowly and evenly while preserving the vibrant character Sidama is known for.
The result is a coffee that is unmistakably Ethiopian: clean, fruit-forward, floral, and deeply reflective of its origin.
Beyond the Cup
Testi Coffee believes producing exceptional coffee goes hand in hand with investing in the communities that grow it. Through their Project Direct initiatives, they have helped fund schools and improve local infrastructure throughout Sidama, including supporting the construction of the first high school in the town of Hamasho.
By working closely with smallholder farmers and reinvesting in coffee-growing communities, Testi Coffee is helping create a more sustainable future for generations to come.
Why We Chose This Coffee
We were drawn to Ayla Shantawene not only for the quality in the cup, but for the care behind every step of its production. From the meticulous hand sorting and patient natural drying process to Testi Coffee's long-term investment in farming communities, this coffee reflects the kind of partnership we value.
Every cup represents the work of hundreds of farming families, thoughtful processing, and a shared commitment to producing coffee with integrity.
Clean Coffee
Clean Coffee
We believe coffee should be both delicious and responsibly sourced. That’s why we only work with specialty-grade coffees that are carefully harvested, dried, and stored. The result is clean, safe coffee that reflects the care of everyone involved.
We’ve had a few questions lately about mold and mycotoxins in coffee. These concerns are understandable, especially with the rise of health-focused media highlighting potential contaminants in commodity-grade coffees. But it's important to contextualize this issue within the specialty coffee supply chain.
Mycotoxins, such as ochratoxin A (OTA) and aflatoxins, can develop when green coffee is improperly processed, dried too slowly, or stored in environments with high humidity and poor ventilation. These conditions are more common in lower-grade, bulk commodity coffees that are harvested and handled with minimal oversight.
The coffees we buy, on the other hand, are traceable, meticulously processed, and stored under controlled conditions. We work exclusively with specialty importers who conduct rigorous quality control at origin and upon arrival, including moisture content analysis, water activity measurements, and sensory evaluation. Coffees showing any signs of mold contamination would be eliminated long before they reach us. Moldy lots not only pose a safety risk, they simply don’t taste good and would fail basic cupping protocols.
While mold and mycotoxin testing isn’t typically a requirement in the specialty sector, it’s also not absent. In some producing countries, OTA testing is mandatory for export. And in others, lots above a certain size are routinely spot-checked by local quality control authorities. More importantly, the stringent handling and drying practices required to meet specialty standards make the presence of harmful mycotoxins highly unlikely.
We’re also attentive to how we store our green coffee, in sealed GrainPro bags, in a stable, low-humidity environment, and roasted in small batches to maintain quality and freshness.
If you'd like to dive deeper into specific protocols, we're happy to talk more. In short, we only work with importers we trust, who work with producers they trust, and quality control is built into every step. The coffees we choose to roast are clean, carefully handled, and selected with intention.
Schedule
Schedule
Our weekly ordering cutoff is Tuesday at 9am. All orders placed before this time will be roasted, packaged and shipped by Wednesday. All orders received after this time are subject to shipping the following week depending on overflow.
Shipping Rates
Shipping Rates
Our current shipping rates are as follows:
Local Delivery Rates within 2km
$5.00 for orders between $0-$20
$2.50 for orders between $20-$40
FREE for orders over $40
Canadian Shipping (with tracking)
Standard rates for orders between $0-$36
$10 for orders between $36-$75
FREE for orders over $75
US Shipping (with tracking)
Standard rates for orders between $0-$100
FREE for orders over $100
Packaging
Packaging
100% Recyclable
Our coffee bags are made of 100% recyclable plastic and widely accepted at recycling depots across Canada, making it easy for you to responsibly dispose. Its recyclable materials ensure that it can be repurposed efficiently, contributing to environmental sustainability efforts and promoting a circular economy model.
Volume Discounts
Volume Discounts
We're dropping the bomb on exclusive volume discounts on our entire coffee collection. Mix and match any single origin and/or blends and get the following discounts automatically applied at checkout.
| 15 - 44 bags | 10% off |
| 45 - 89 bags | 15% off |
| 90 - 179 bags | 20% off |
| 180+ bags | 25% off |
10 bags, mix & match = 5% discount
15 bags, mix & match = 10% discount
Automatically applied at checkout.
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