Dawit & Hester, founders of Bette Buna
Why we started
Bette Buna was founded in 2020 by Hester, from the Netherlands, and her husband Dawit, from Ethiopia. From the very beginning, it was about more than coffee; it was about potential. Hester has always been a dreamer, seeing possibilities where others see limitations, while Dawit is more of a strategic realist, grounding vision in practical steps. Together, they share a belief in people’s potential, balancing imagination with strategy. Early on, they noticed how easily people, especially those overlooked or underestimated, were judged too quickly, and how small changes in guidance, opportunity, and belief could transform lives.
Since 2009, almost two decades in Ethiopia, they have been creating opportunities, mentoring communities, and building systems that empower people to take control of their future. They learned that real change does not come from charity alone, but from creating structures where people can learn, experiment, and grow their skills. Coffee became the tool to make that transformation visible, connecting farmers, communities, and global markets while embedding learning, experimentation, and ownership at every step.
Bette Buna is the result of this philosophy in action. It is a project designed to open doors, build capacity, and show what is possible when potential is recognized and facilitated. Hester and Dawit believe in giving opportunities, but they also believe in hard work. When opportunity comes, it is the duty of those who receive it to grab it with both hands. Success does not come by luck; it is earned through effort, determination, and persistence. Every trained farmer, every empowered community member, every lot of coffee represents a chance realized.
Bette Buna is still growing. Every step embodies the belief that change is possible when potential is seen before it is obvious, and when that belief is paired with courage, collaboration, and relentless effort. This is why Bette Buna was started: to build something where both coffee and people can grow, where hope, skill, and opportunity meet, and where the community itself becomes a model for what is possible.