Our Connection to Morkata Gata

Ethiopian coffee is special.

Our relationship with Newland coffee began when we were cupping with our friends at Necessity coffee in Encitas. 

A man named Brendan Vincent happened to be there and hopped into the cupping with us. He mentioned that he was an importer looking to get the ball rolling on this new venture of his and we exchanged info. At the time it was just your typical networking chit chat, but a month later, Brendan swung by the shop when I was in. He said hi and dropped off a sample of an auction lot of Guatemalan and some Ethiopian coffees.

We cupped them like we do with samples and were very impressed with the complexity of these Ethiopian coffees from Morkata.

Immediately, we knew this was looking to be a great partnership! We bought a pallet of Morkata’s washed and natural offering after that cupping. Not only did we get to reunite with Brendan at the World of Coffee conference this spring of 2026, we hope to travel to Ethiopia to see his work  in coffee production firsthand Q4 of 2026.

Meet Morkata Gata from Mira Coffee

Morkata’s family is from Gerba, in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, home to the renowned Guji coffee zone. Its high altitude, fertile soil, and favorable climate combine to create ideal conditions for exceptional coffee beans that are highly prized in the global market and help solidify the region’s reputation as a premier coffee hub.

The family has been farming in Guji for generations, shaping the region’s coffee legacy. His father, Shonora Gata, built some of the earliest washing stations in the area, helping lay the foundation for Guji’s rise as one of the world’s most celebrated coffee-producing regions.

Today, Morkata continues that legacy through his company, Mira Coffee, a true family operation named after his young son, Mira, which means “peace” in the Oromo language.

Newland Coffee's Connection to Morkata

From the very beginning, Morkata and his family have treated Brendan and Newland Coffee like family. On their first trip to Guji, they unknowingly arrived during Ethiopian Christmas celebrations after booking the trip for early January. Ethiopia celebrates Christmas on January 7th, a fact that they will remember when booking trips in the future! Brendan was welcomed into Morkata’s parents’ home to celebrate with their family. They even gifted him traditional regional clothing.

In fact, Newland’s very first coffee purchase was from Morkata. It’s no exaggeration to say that without Mira Coffee and Morkata’s friendship, Newland may never have gotten off the ground. Their relationship with Mira remains a cornerstone of their   business and a reminder that great coffee is ultimately built on great people.