Guji: Shakiso, Ethiopia - Natural Process

From the Importer

The Kayon Mountain Coffee Farm covers 500 hectares with about 300 hectares planted in coffee, and has been owned and operated by Ismel Hassen and his family since 2012. It is located 510 kilometers south of Addis Ababa, and the property crosses the border of two villages—Taro and Sewana—located in the Orogmia region, in the Guji zone of the Shakiso district of Ethiopia.

Ismel oversees a staff of 25 permanent full-time and 300 seasonal employees, and the farm management offers free transportation services as well as financial support for building schools and administration buildings for the community. The farm competes with a nearby mining village for seasonal workers, so Ismel and his family tend to pay higher wages to their pickers in order to incentivize them returning year after year.

Kayon Mountain farm has a nursery on-site, and utilizes shade (gravilla, accacia, and other indigenous trees) to protect the coffee as well as for creating compost to fertilize naturally. Ismel is meticulous about not only the structure and management of the farm itself, but also the harvesting and processing. Both Natural and Washed lots are produced on the property.

From the Roaster

This is our second offering from our of our favorite subregions of Ethiopia: the Guji zone. This coffee is special to us because it is our very first naturally processed coffee that we’ve had as an offering. We taste honey and concord grape-like sweetness with a subtle blueberry aroma. This coffee is everything we love about deeper, rich Ethiopian coffees. This coffee was also chosen with help from our customers at our first public cupping.

How we’re brewing it

Here’s how we’re brewing this coffee in our cafe. We use the Barazta Vario grinder and a Kalita dripper in this recipe.

Grind size: 8W (Medium)

Coffee dose: 25

Water dose: 400g

Brew time: 3:30

Water temp: 208F

Yield: 12oz