Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee as legend has it that around the 5th century AD, a goatherd named Kalid noticed that his goats pranced excitedly after chewing berries from coffee bushes. He tasted the berries and enjoyed a similar stimulating effect.

A monk who found Kalid in that invigorated state also tasted the berries and took some for planting at his monastery near Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile. He roasted and brewed the harvested coffee beans and tried out the beverage on his brethren. As a result, the monks were kept awake during the long prayers at night.

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Today, the offspring of these coffee trees can still be found at a place called Zege, where thousands of these trees are being used for research by the Ethiopian Coffee Research Center.

Coffee exports from Ethiopia began around 1810. In 1838, an export of 100 quintals of Enarea coffee (now Limu - Seka, Jimma) through the former Ethiopian port of Massawa was recorded. For centuries, coffee was transported by caravans of mules, camels and donkeys to the outside world. Today, Ethiopia produces about 280,000 tonnes of coffee annually and about 60% of that is exported.

ALPHA TRADING PARTNERS (ATP) is today a true reflection of the vibrant Ethiopian coffee export sector and is major trader and dealer of all Ethiopian origin agricultural commodities with the main focus and attention on Arabica coffee as a specialty. The company deals in organic, Utz certified and other certified coffees. Run and managed by a team of ample experience in the international coffee market, Alpha Trading Partners has become a leading Ethiopian coffee export company whose reputation in the market is second to none.

ALPHA TRADING PARTNERS was founded in May 1994 as a join venture between two partners with the aim of marketing Ethiopian agricultural products to the world and is legally registered by Ethiopia’s Ministry of Trade and Industry. With a well defined vision, mission and objectives, we are the bridge that offers the gift of Ethiopia to the world. Between January and August 2007, ATP has supplied world wide buyers with almost 100,210 (60kg) bags of coffee.

	Managing Director, Mr. Tewodros Yilma Mengistu

From the Managing Director, Mr. Tewodros Yilma Mengistu:

Our vision inspires us to understand, explore and participate in international coffee market opportunities through export. At ATP, we identify the relative advantage that exists within the country and in international trade, particularly in agricultural products. Today, we are proud to confidently say that our objectives have been met and our mission is successful in our area of engagement. We call upon all our international trade partners to continue sharing in the agricultural gifts that Ethiopia has to offer, especially our outstanding Arabica coffee!