Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA), a coffee trade association, has certified Addis Ababa-based METAD Agricultural Development (METAD)/Kabu Coffee Quality Control Laboratory as the first privately owned certified laboratory in Africa.
The laboratory was established in the Gerji area of Addis Ababa with a mission to help drive global credibility for Ethiopia's coffee market.
METAD performs cultivation, processing and export operations for green Arabica coffee beans and also provides purchased coffee for export. METAD's consumer brand, Kabu Coffee, mainly focuses on roasted coffee production and distribution as well as cafe operations.
The SCAA certification will allow METAD and Kabu Coffee to deliver high-quality coffee products to its customers.
According to SCAA coffee quality institute instructor Marty Curtis, the certified laboratory will contribute to the development of Ethiopia's coffee industry by building buyers' trust on the quality of Ethiopian coffee.
METAD CEO Aman Adinew said the laboratory will be used to train farmers from around the country to improve the quality of the coffees they produce; and it will assist international buyers, roasters and importers with gaining access to consistent quality coffees.
"In addition, these international buyers have a place to taste the coffees they intend to buy and calibrate their needs with our certified coffee Q-graders," Adinew added.
