Horsham Coffee Roaster - Ethiopia Kilenso Mokonisa

The Kilenso Mokonisa Cooperative lies close to the town of Hagermariam within the Bule Hora ward of the Borena zone in the Sidamo region of southern Ethiopia. The coop is made up of about 350 small holder farmers. In the past the coffees coming from Kilenso would have been blended into larger lots and sold under the area’s catch all name “Ardi”.

The members of the coop use organic practices so as to not waste anything they produce and the coffees grown in the region are prized by connoisseurs for their refined perfumed aromatics. The region produces a minimal amount of rainfall for coffee production (1,200 mm or 47 inches), which may contribute to the unique characteristics found in its coffees.

At the washing station, owned by Aklilu Kassa, the cherries are washed in the traditional Ethiopian manner and then dried on raised racks while undergoing intense hand sorting to remove blemishes that might harm the coffee’s flavour.