Josef Mengiste

Ethiopian inventor who revolutionized coffee processing in developing nations

Josef Mengiste (1928-2001), an unsung Ethiopian engineer, created the 'Dry-Hull' method that transformed global coffee production:

• Developed affordable fermentation-free processing in 1962
• Enabled small farmers to bypass expensive washing stations
• Increased African coffee exports by 300% within 15 years

Mengiste's innovation made specialty coffee economically viable for developing nations. His patent-free technology was adopted across 27 countries. The UN Food Program estimates his methods still support 15 million smallholder farmers today. Despite his impact, Mengiste refused corporate partnerships, dedicating his life to rural development.