Why it matters
Ethiopia is the origin of coffee, not a flavor note
Coffee was first cultivated in Ethiopia, and it is still grown there in a way that exists almost nowhere else: thousands of smallholder farms, heirloom varieties, and processing traditions specific to each region.
That variety is the reason a washed Yirgacheffe tastes like jasmine and citrus while a natural Guji tastes like blueberry and cocoa. Same country, entirely different cup. Warka's job is to keep those differences intact all the way to the bag instead of blending them into anonymity.
What makes Warka different
Vertically integrated, and specialized
Ethiopia is not a category on our menu. It is the thread that connects every decision we make.
One company, origin to cup
Most coffee passes through an importer, a roaster, and a retailer that never speak to each other. Warka is all three, which means nothing about a lot gets lost in translation on the way to your cup.
Ethiopia is the whole program
Warka is not a general roaster with an Ethiopian shelf. Ethiopia is the entire focus, which is why the relationships run for years instead of a season.
Roasted where we serve
Roasting and fulfillment run out of Rockville, Maryland. Coffee that ships to the DC region travels a short distance from the roaster to your kitchen.
The roastery
Rockville, Maryland
Every bag Warka ships is roasted here, in batches small enough that each lot gets its own profile.
The roastery is also where cupping happens — the same table where incoming lots get scored is where wholesale partners taste before they commit to a program.
Visit the roastery
Founding and team
The people behind every cup
Two paths meet here: a systems-minded roaster and an operations leader shaped by care.
Nate and Betlhem bring different kinds of precision to the same purpose: protect the quality of the coffee, honor the people behind it, and make every guest feel welcome.
Natnael "Nate" Meseret
Founder & CEO · Certified Coffee Roaster · Coffee Importer
An Ethiopian-born engineer, certified roaster, and importer, Nate brings a systems mindset to Warka. After a decade as an electrical engineer supporting the U.S. Army, he returned to a question that stayed with him: how could Ethiopian coffee reach American drinkers with more connection and care?
He now leads producer relationships, green-coffee importing, roast-profile development, wholesale partnerships, and Warka's long-term strategy.
Betlhem Bekele
Co-Founder & Operations Manager
A clinical nurse, operations leader, and co-founder, Betlhem brings empathy, safety, teamwork, and consistency to Warka. Her healthcare work taught her to notice the details that help people feel cared for.
She leads operations, hospitality, and team culture, making sure Warka's quality and genuine welcome are felt in every interaction.