The Chelchele washing station derives its name from the village of Chelchele and is situated in an area with coffee plantations spanning 30 hectares, ranging in elevation from 1945 to 1970 meters.
Owned by METAD, a private coffee lab based in Addis Ababa, the station is dedicated to supporting Ethiopian farm owners and farmers while fostering the growth of the specialty coffee industry in Ethiopia.
Established in 2013, the Chelchele washing station occupies 30 hectares of prime land in the heart of the renowned Yirgacheffe appellation, internationally acclaimed for its top-tier coffees.

METAD collaborates with local farmers who provide their finest coffee cherries. More than 2,000 farmers in the Gedeb area currently supply their entire or partial harvest to METAD, cultivating coffee at high altitudes, approximately 2,000 meters above sea level.

Most producers in Ethiopia are smallholders, and the majority continue to cultivate coffee using traditional methods. As a result, most coffee is grown with no chemical fertilizer or pesticide use. Coffee is almost entirely cultivated, harvested and dried using manual systems. Coffee also provides the main income for up to 25% of the population.

More than 15 million people grow coffee as their major cash crop.
The Ethiopian government also depends on coffee to generate between 25 and 35% of total annual export earnings.