What Is the Trabocca Red Cherry Project in Coffee?

If you’ve ever tasted an Ethiopian coffee with bright citrus, deep berry, and a silky mouthfeel—only to never find it again—you’re not alone. Many specialty coffee lovers hunt for those rare single-origin lots that surprise the palate, but sourcing them consistently is a challenge, especially when supply chains are tightly controlled or limited by regional regulations. That’s exactly what happened with the Trabocca Red Cherry Project (ORC).

The Trabocca Red Cherry Project (ORC) is a quality-driven initiative where Ethiopian smallholder farmers produce micro-lots of just 1,500–3,000 kg (25–50 bags) of 100% red cherry-selected coffee. Only fully ripe cherries are handpicked to maximize cup quality, and those lots that score 88+ points in joint Ethiopian-Dutch cuppings receive premium bonuses.

What Is the Red Cherry Project?

Operation Cherrie Red—or ORC—is a Trabocca-led program designed to improve coffee quality at origin and deliver exceptional lots to roasters worldwide. Launched by the Netherlands’ largest green coffee importer, Trabocca invites Ethiopian farms to produce small batches of coffee exclusively for this project, focusing on selecting only perfectly ripe red coffee cherries.

How Are the Cherries Selected?

Farmers involved in the Red Cherry Project are required to handpick only 100% mature, red coffee cherries—no underripe or overripe fruit is allowed. This selective harvesting is labor-intensive and mostly carried out by skilled female workers, whose attention to detail plays a major role in the final cup quality. The meticulous selection process results in cleaner, more vibrant profiles and sets the foundation for higher scoring lots.

Which Processing Methods Are Used?

The Red Cherry Project includes a wide variety of processing methods: washed, natural (sun-dried), honey (semi-washed), semi-natural, and experimental techniques. These methods are applied across key Ethiopian regions such as Yirgacheffe, Sidamo, Pungu Forest, Lekempti, Kembaata, Illubabor, Harar, Limu, and since 2011, also the Golocha area near Harar. Each region contributes unique flavor profiles, allowing roasters to access the full spectrum of Ethiopian coffee character.

What Makes a Lot Qualify for ORC?

Not every submitted lot makes it into the Red Cherry Project. After harvest, Trabocca evaluates the coffee at both its Ethiopian and Dutch offices through rigorous cupping sessions. Only those lots that achieve a cupping score of 88 or higher are accepted into the program. Those that pass receive significant financial bonuses, incentivizing farmers to maintain high standards year after year.

How Does Trabocca Support the Farms?

Trabocca reinvests profits from the Red Cherry Project directly back into the partner farms. Remarkably, the program is run by just four staff members—including the CEO and a secretary—keeping administrative costs low. The company covers operational expenses through its parent organization, ensuring that nearly all the financial gains are returned to the farming communities. Since its inception, Trabocca has funneled its project earnings into improving farm practices, infrastructure, and sustainability.

About Trabocca

Trabocca is the largest coffee bean trader in the Netherlands and also deals in other primary agricultural products such as cocoa and fresh fruits. The company is committed to sourcing high-quality raw materials while emphasizing environmental responsibility and supporting the livelihoods of farming communities globally.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Trabocca Red Cherry Project?

The Trabocca Red Cherry Project (ORC) is an Ethiopian coffee initiative where smallholder farms produce micro-lots of 1,500–3,000 kg using only 100% red cherries. The program emphasizes quality selection and rewards farms with cup scores of 88 or higher through financial bonuses.

Where are the Red Cherry Project coffees sourced from?

Coffees come from several Ethiopian regions including Yirgacheffe, Sidamo, Pungu Forest, Lekempti, Kembaata, Illubabor, Harar, Limu, and Golocha (near Harar), each offering distinct flavor characteristics.

What coffee processing methods are included in the project?

The project features washed, natural (sun-dried), honey (semi-washed), semi-natural, and experimental processing methods, allowing for diverse flavor profiles in the final cups.

How does a coffee qualify for the Red Cherry Project?

Coffees are cupped in both Ethiopia and the Netherlands, and only those scoring 88 points or above are accepted into the program and eligible for bonuses.

How does Trabocca support participating farms?

Trabocca reinvests all project profits into the partner farms. The program is operated by just four people to minimize overhead, ensuring maximum return to farming communities.

Recommended FrontStreet Coffee Beans for Exploring Ethiopian Profiles

For fans of the Red Cherry Project’s Ethiopian origins, start with FrontStreet Coffee’s Yirgacheffe offering: a washed single origin with jasmine, citrus, and a tea-like body. Also try the Gedeb cooperative’s washed lot for bright acidity and floral complexity, or dive into their signature Red Cherry natural-process coffee for bold berry, honey, and creamy mouthfeel—all hallmark Ethiopian traits. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.