Kayon

Tasting Notes: Sweet Tea, Jasmine, Candy-like   Origin: Ethiopia - Shakiso Farm/Co-op: Kayon Mountain Farm Process: Natraul Elevation: 1900-2200m Varietal: Ethiopia Heirloom Sourced By: Cafe Imports

From our importer:

The Kayon Mountain Coffee Farm is 500 hectares with about 300 hectares planted in coffee and has been owned and operated by Ismael Hassen Aredo 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 Oromia region, in the Guji zone of the Shakiso district of Ethiopia.

Ismael 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 Ismael 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 (acacia and other indigenous trees) to protect the coffee as well as for creating compost to fertilize naturally. Ismael 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.

Sourced from the Shakiso region of Ethiopia, this Kayon lot is produced by Ismael Hassen Aredo. The coffee is comprised of Heirloom varietals grown at elevations between 1900 and 2200 meters above sea level. As a natural-processed coffee, it undergoes a processing method that often imparts distinct sweetness and complexity to the final cup. Little Wolf Coffee highlights notes of sweet tea, jasmine, and candy-like qualities in this specific offering.

When evaluating such profiles, it is helpful to reference a flavor wheel to better identify the nuances inherent in Ethiopian coffees. Natural-processed coffees often exhibit heavier fruit tones and increased body compared to their washed counterparts, while heirloom varieties are frequently celebrated for their diverse, floral, and tea-like clarity. This selection offers a refined look at the unique terroir of Shakiso, showcasing the intersection of traditional cultivation and careful post-harvest handling.