Ethiopia Kayon Mountain Natural

Natural-process Ethiopian coffee from Kayon Mountain in Shakiso, East Guji. The same cherries as the washed version, dried whole, producing a fruity cup with notes of blueberry pie and white peach.

The Kayon Mountain Coffee Farm has been owned and operated by Ismael Hassen Aredo and his family since 2012. The farm has an on-site plant nursery and utilizes the shade of acacia and other indigenous trees to protect the coffee and create compost for natural fertilization.

Ismael is meticulous about the farm's structure and management, as well as the harvesting and processing. Washed coffees are picked ripe and depulped the same day. They are fermented for 24–36 hours, depending on the weather, and then dried on raised beds. Natural coffees are picked, rinsed and sorted, and moved to the drying beds. In both cases, drying takes between 12–20 days.

Ismael oversees a staff of 25 permanent full-time employees and 300 seasonal employees. Ismael and his family pay higher wages to their pickers to incentivize them to return year after year. The farm also offers free transportation services to its employees and financial support for building schools and administration buildings for their community.

This coffee is fruit-forward, balanced by a beautifully round, creamy body. Juicy Concord grape and ripe berries lead the way, building into a rich, jammy sweetness reminiscent of blueberry pie. As the cup cools, a delicate note of white peach emerges, adding another lovely layer to an already delicious coffee.