Ethiopia Kayon Mountain Lot 40

Origin: Guji, Ethiopia
District / Zone: Shakiso
Locality: Taro & Sewana
Producer: Ismael Hassen Aredo
Altitude: 1,900–2,200 masl
Varietals: 74110, 74112
Process: Natural
Tasting Notes: Mango • Blueberries • Mandarin

Roaster’s Note

Roasted to emphasize the silky mango body and the bright, berry-driven acidity. Blueberries come through clearly as the cup cools, while the mandarin note gives a refreshing citrus snap. Best as filter; also shines as a modern, fruity espresso.

About this lot

Kayon Mountain Coffee stands as one of Ethiopia’s rare, truly vertically integrated, family-owned estates—a remarkable exception in a country where coffee production is usually fragmented among thousands of smallholders. Founded in 2012 by Ismael Hassen Aredo and his family, the estate spans nearly 500 hectares in the highlands of the Guji Zone, with 300 hectares dedicated to coffee and the remainder preserved as native forest.

From the beginning, the family envisioned a farm that blends quality, sustainability, and community upliftment. Kayon Mountain is certified organic, biodynamic, and shade-grown, applying natural composting and biodiversity preservation to cultivate its cherries at 1,900–2,200 masl.

More than just a coffee farm, Kayon Mountain provides fair wages, healthcare, transportation, and stable employment for over 300 seasonal workers and 25 full-time staff, offering a dignified alternative to the region’s mining jobs.

Unlike most farms in Ethiopia, Kayon Mountain also owns its own wet mill and dry mill, giving it full control over every step—from harvesting to drying to export. This rare level of traceability and processing oversight allows Kayon Mountain to consistently produce clean, expressive coffees while bypassing the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange to sell directly to specialty buyers around the world.

Kayon Mountain is more than an origin—it’s a model for what Ethiopian coffee can become when heritage, sustainability, and family vision align.