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This coffee will be fresh roasted for you. We expect Coava Coffee Roasters will roast and ship this coffee in 1-2 business days depending on their roasting schedule.
Coffee Story
Description
This is the Ethiopia Kilenso brought to you by Coava Coffee Roasters. Kilenso Mokonissa is one of the smallest villages in the Borena Hagermariam District of Sidama, Ethiopia. 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.” Grown between 1,750 - 1,900 meters, notes of lavender and grape jam balance this naturally processed coffee.
Origin
Country
Ethiopia
Region
Borena Hagermariam, Sidama
Altitude
1750 - 1900
Variety
Ethiopian heirloom
Process
Full Natural
Producer
Kilenso Mokonissa Cooperative Customer Reviews
Love it!
3/13/2020
You can definitely taste the fermented fruit. Excellent natural Ethiopian. Sweet
3/10/2020
It is light and fresh. You can taste the notes of grape. Glad I ordered it!
2/28/2020
This one was still awesome 5 weeks after roast. The natural process was very evident (a plus for me) and this coffee was very sweet, but not overwhelmingly so. Will definitely be trying other things from this roaster!
2/1/2020
Juicy flavor.
12/2/2019
Very good over all! Has a nice little touch of fruit that really brightens up the flavor.
9/5/2019
Quintessential naturally processes coffee. Full of stone fruit.
8/9/2019
Loved the aroma, jam came through both on the nose and the flavor. Had a difficult time brewing with a Kalita, brew times exceeded 4-5 minutes regardless of grind size.
8/3/2019
I like this coffee. It's not the best I've ever tasted, but I'm happy with it. The flavour makes me think of "chalky chocolate".
7/26/2019
Funny that Misto would send me a bag a coffee from a Portland Roaster... Needless to say this an amazing coffee witch I have had before. My wife and I would rather brew it our selves then let Coava use their metal filters! For the most part we are using a V60, 1/16 Coffee to water (201 F).
7/16/2019
Delicious coffee instantly recognizable as an Ethiopian natural. I've found it more appealingly delicate and clean than many coffees in that style. Sweet and forgiving to brew.
7/10/2019
Smooth and light - we liked this coffee and would like to experience more like this
7/10/2019
It was very crisp and light. I tried it with Chemex and Kalita Wave. The wave gave a more full bodied taste, but I would still enjoy a bolder flavor.
7/4/2019
Very bitter, did not get the tasting notes listed at all.
7/1/2019
Really excellent!
7/1/2019
Really nice. Low acidity. Well balanced flavors, but a little light
6/28/2019
This was great, very pleasantly surprised.
6/23/2019
Spot on choice. Very balanced and delicious, almost sweet. Went with 15:1 and it came out just right. Looking forward to future choices.
6/23/2019
This is a really nice. Amazing aroma, very smooth and balanced cup.
6/21/2019
Nice and fruity. Enjoyed this bag.
6/18/2019
Soooo amazing
6/17/2019
This coffee was delicious. I could happily drink it every day
5/30/2019
Slight bitterness to it. Not as smooth s cup as I like! Can’t wait to try the next one! It’s not one I would drive across town to get but it’s fine for the morning cup of coffee
5/17/2019
Hi there, I gave this coffee 2 stars because we found it to be just okay. We both drink our coffee black with no sweetener. I think for this reason I tend to be a little conservative with the amount of beans to avoid a bitter taste. So, for this brew, we found while not bitter, kind of unflavorfull! Thanks!
5/16/2019
Nice vanilla flavors
5/15/2019
a very good coffee, didn't knock my socks off.
5/15/2019
A slightly bitter; otherwise mild, unremarkable roast
5/12/2019
Great stuff. The chocolate note was stronger than expected but still satisfied.
5/12/2019
Fruit-forward, sweet and a relatively clean natural.
5/9/2019
I enjoy the fruit forward of it. Using an aeropress and a V60 and prefer the V60 with this coffee. Quite a bit more fruit comes forward in the cup.
5/9/2019
Lavender or some sort of floral flavor was fairly prevelant. Wasn't ever able to find the jammy characteristics of the bean, though by the end of the bag I was getting some juicy sweetness. Brewed with v60.
4/29/2019
Really good. Very similar to the turning point Ethiopian
4/28/2019
Loving this every cup just a bit more each time. :)
4/27/2019
Pretty good. Very fruity when freshly roasted. Not interested in revisiting.
Update 5/19/19: I was probably too harsh on this as I reviewed it past its peak freshness. I did enjoy it when it was fresh but it seems the flavors really died off after the first two weeks. I currently cannot kill a bag in 2 weeks on my own. It's made average cold brew.
Update 5/19/19: I was probably too harsh on this as I reviewed it past its peak freshness. I did enjoy it when it was fresh but it seems the flavors really died off after the first two weeks. I currently cannot kill a bag in 2 weeks on my own. It's made average cold brew.
4/23/2019
Pleasant sweet, juicy cantaloup notes on the back of the tongue when brewed at low temperature (190 degrees) on the AeroPress. Tasted weak and tea-like on the Chemex.
4/22/2019
Mild for a Ethiopian and nice subtle fruitiness. Light roast with no oil present and great extraction with my Linea Mini.
4/21/2019
I like the coffee as a cup or two, but the whole bag is a bit much. I do not want any more natural processed coffees. I requested this, and I’m not sure why it was not considered when selecting this coffee.
4/19/2019
I love the light roast, fruity flavor. It's complex - sweet and fruit but at the end I got a weird acid note of, like Thai fish sauce. But in a good way. Keep em coming!
4/19/2019
Super sweet fruity coffee. Well balanced. A clean finish with a hint of floral tea. It even tastes great as it cools down. Loved it!
4/15/2019
4.25 but will round up to 5, as it seems closer to “excellent” than merely “good.” Interesting and complex aged light roast. Took a little work with areopress and may be more acidic than my ideal, but makes a beautiful cup for sure
4/10/2019
This one's a keeper! Definate hit of grape jam, dry finish. Light on lavender. Perhaps some are looking for a berry associated with other etheopians; this is not that. A great cup of coffee. Brewed with chemex and aeropress. As always, if you are looking for stronger flavor notes go with the aeropress, but I prefer the smoothness of chemex.
4/8/2019
meh
4/4/2019
A bit disappointing in being not very assertive in any way. Tried different brewing methods but failed to really get the grape jam or the lavender mentioned in the description - not much fruit and not much acidity either.
4/1/2019
Slightly earthy, bright with a balanced tart bite to finish. An excellent start to our subscription!
3/31/2019
Maybe my favorite coffee ever! Loved the fruit and the complexity.
3/30/2019
I loved the fruity notes! I also appreciated that it wasn't super acidic. Nice coffee!
3/25/2019
Not a huge fan of naturals as it is. There was something kind of off about this one, wasn’t as fruity as you would expect.
3/24/2019
Maybe 3.5. The aroma is excellent and it seems very bright and floral-y (maybe the lavender?). It didn't really taste as bright as it smelled, though. It wasn't bad at all, though.
3/23/2019
Juicy.
3/23/2019
some baked beans, flat flavor profile. grape flavor not prominent until luke warm.
3/14/2019
Five stars
3/14/2019
Fantastic coffee. Nice fruit & chocolate notes.
3/3/2019
Not a single one of the listed flavor notes came through. Even when properly brewed with no bitterness or sourness, it just tasted flat. Not off putting at least, but rather boring.
3/2/2019
The Kilenso has been a favorite of mine for a long time. Each crop and roaster I've had it from has been great. While this one was fine, it lacked the clarity of flavors i'd seen before. Tried brewing it different methods, but hit the mark too many times. It was an average coffee for me, hopefully that is just a one-off.
2/25/2019
Please do not send us coffees from Africa
2/24/2019
aroma, body, sweetness. this coffee had everything going for it. reminds me of a sweet dream.
2/12/2019
The tasting notes are spot on and it smells absolutely wonderful.
2/9/2019
The first one I got from mistobox. I was a bit worried that I cannot get anything decent online but this really changes my mind. Notes like grape jam and lavender are very strong. I did pour-over with v60, 92degree Celsius water, pour in three stages. You can smell lavendar and grape jam right after grinding it. And the coffee is full of grape flavor and feel juicy. Really amazing.
2/9/2019
Over roasted for what I typicaly use (chemex, v60). Underwhelmed by the flavor, more burnt than anything.
2/7/2019
A bit too light roast. Bordering on graininess. Balanced acidity.
1/29/2019
Not really good at notes, and fairly new to good coffee... but this felt like the first time I really discovered coffee, where the flavors just opened up to me That flowery note just sings from the first sip.
1/29/2019
I loved it! I enjoyed the light, natural processed beans. The fruity flavor was wonderful!
1/28/2019
Just wonderful. The flavor profile is exactly as described.
1/27/2019
Super juicy, clean finish, light, got some blueberry notes in there
1/27/2019
Bright and fruity, without the sour notes of similar coffees. Perhaps slightly unbalanced, lacking in earthy notes.
1/24/2019
very good. Subtleties in taste yet with character.
1/22/2019
Did not like this. It was waayyy too fruity
1/20/2019
Delicious, but too grape-y / blueberry-y for our taste!
1/20/2019
Ok, not bad.
1/16/2019
Tasty. Loved it
1/15/2019
This was a great coffee! I loved the flavor profile with my Chemex. A little bit intense with the jam flavor but something I really enjoyed overall.
1/13/2019
It is very good coffee, but more medium bodied than we typically like. The notes we got were chocolate and cherry. We prefer more floral, or citrusy notes. Still objectively delicious, but not our ideal coffee.
1/13/2019
Great taste! Enjoyed the fruit and lavender!
1/12/2019
When I saw it was Coava, I knew it was going to be good (I lived in Portland for 7 years). Very fruity and delicious. Loved that the roast date was less than a week old. Keep them fresh coffees coming!
1/11/2019
smooth, sweet, fruity..sweet smell.
Awsome!
Awsome!
1/11/2019
Great coffee, good balance of body and fruit/juice taste. Sometimes Ethiopian coffee can be too acidic, but this one isn't. I would also add whiskey notes to the flavor profile.
brewed 30-35g @ 209F to make 500mL of coffee.
brewed 30-35g @ 209F to make 500mL of coffee.
1/10/2019
Using my default setup, this coffee brewed up a little sour. The sourness was reduced when I increased extraction. I'm looking for coffee with more juiciness without so much sourness. I think that with enough supply, I could eventually dial in the brew to eliminate the sour notes, but atas--it's all gone!
1/10/2019
I liked this coffee overall, but the lavender and juicy aftertaste was a bit much. Would prefer something that tastes a bit richer next. Thanks!
1/10/2019
I enjoyed the light roast, but this coffee was too fruity and floral for my liking. I prefer much more nutty/chocolate tones.
1/10/2019
Excellent choice. Really enjoyed this coffee’s character.
1/9/2019
Sweet and fruity.
1/7/2019
It was perfect. Everything I am loving in coffee these days - light and fruity. If I got two more like this I would be happy.
1/7/2019
It was great! I brewed cold, is there a better type of coffee to do cold brew with? Thanks!
1/7/2019
Would definitely buy this coffee again. I would say it’s my perfect cup but it is a 5 star coffee for sure. Roast level was perfect but the notes weren’t exactly what I aim for. I got more of the sweet and juicy and less of the really fruity jam. I’d say for sure my key nite I aim for is HEAVY on the blueberry. Regardless I’d be very happy with any coffees exactly like this one. Thank you.
1/7/2019
A lot of flavor, maybe just a tad sweet, but an awesome cup.
1/7/2019
Really liked this choice! Taste great.
1/6/2019
Liked the juiciness and notes, really well balanced cup
1/6/2019
Aroma of the beans remind me of a jelly donut and is delicious. Roast is darker than expected. Typical Ethiopia fruit forward but with a slightly earthy/floral finish.
1/5/2019
Really delicious! It lacked a little bit in body for me to give it a full 5 stars though. Slightly more tea-like in terms of body, if that makes sense. I loved the notes though and thoroughly enjoyed this coffee!
1/5/2019
great! didnt get the lavender but the grape jam notes came through and it was definitely juicy. good first coffee. Love sidamos
1/5/2019
Slightly more acidic and definitely a bit more juicier than I would prefer
1/5/2019
It had a good flavor, but it didn't taste very fresh. Not sure if that was due to the packaging (paper bag), or if it was roasted too long. We like a strong flavor, with a bit of a sour taste.
1/4/2019
Delicious; exactly the type of coffee I'm looking for. Would love to go even lighter/brighter/fruitier next time if it's possible.
1/2/2019
Absolutely amazing coffee, delicious, anything similar to this would be gladly welcomed. Great choice!
1/2/2019
Love the fruity pop to this coffee. Huge fan of the profile.
1/2/2019
Great coffee. Brewed in Chemex, super smooth and crisp flavor.
12/31/2018
really enjoyed this coffee. particularly liked the earthiness.
12/31/2018
Very enjoyable lighter fruit notes.
12/29/2018
Unique scent with nutty like flavor. Made on the chemex so was definitely smooth but almost too fruity for our taste.
12/26/2018
Really good coffee. It brewed well, was light and flavorful and bright. More like this.
12/24/2018
Lots of grape smells coming from the bag upon initial opening. After letting the coffee rest for five days, it makes a pleasant fruity cup.
12/22/2018
Sweet, low-acid, but not bland. Love it.
12/14/2018
Our local, go-to coffee is Cafe Grumpy. The Coava Ethiopia Kilenso did not quite stack up. We look forward to a more unexpected coffee in our next box.
12/13/2018
This coffee was good but did not stand out as incredible to me. I’ve never had a coffee that I’ve had to adjust my grind so coarse. I use a Baratza Encore & I’m usually in the range of 12-20. This particular coffee I had to use 30 to get my timing & taste right with Hario v60. I’m not tasting really “jammy” but I am not confident yet in my ability to pull out certain tasting notes. This coffee seemed a little heavy on my tongue & not overwhelmingly so but somewhat earthy. I have had coffees that were very complex that I liked & coffees that are more light & crisp that I like as well so I don’t want to say at this point that I only like ____. The color of the beans looked fine, didn’t appear to be too dark. I was expecting a little more from this batch.
12/12/2018
It was good for the most part. I did find that I needed to add more than a 1:16 ratio, otherwise, it tasted bland and weak.
12/12/2018
Really good!
12/10/2018
Coffee (brewed pour-over) tastes clean and fresh. Notes are very reminiscent of blueberry and quite strong. I personally did not love that.
Edit: I eventually ended up sort of liking the notes on this.
Edit: I eventually ended up sort of liking the notes on this.
12/5/2018
Perhaps my favorite one yet. Fragrant, juicy mixed berry notes with beautiful floral overtones. Sweet and clean on the palate with a round mouthfeel and balanced acidity. A stunner!
12/4/2018
So - So. I don't love natural coffees
12/3/2018
Did not like this coffee. Had that "Inteligentsia" taste. Not into it.
11/28/2018
Makes an excellent, slightly earthy / unctuous espresso. It's a great coffee that was glad that I picked - and of course, coming from Portland Oregon it has to be good given the competition there.
11/23/2018
Certainly jammy! Tasty tasty!
11/22/2018
I liked this one!
11/22/2018
Pretty full bodied for a Ethiopian. Couldn’t taste aromas that well.
11/21/2018
Good, pleasant to drink.
11/20/2018
Juicy is a great description for this coffee. Somedays the lavendar notes stood out more and somedays it had more of an earthy tone depending on who brewed the coffee
11/17/2018
wasn't excited by this
11/16/2018
Delicious!! Juicy, I love it
11/15/2018
So far I don't love this one -- it seems to lack the distinctive fruit flavors I generally expect from Ethiopians (especially natural process ones). I'm still experimenting with brew setting to see if any tweaks can improve the output.
11/15/2018
The first coffee we have had from Coava and it was excellent. Very fruity and bright living up to the Ethiopian standards.
11/8/2018
Very floraly. I really enjoyed it and I’ll be buying it again.
11/3/2018
What an excellent coffee bursting with juicy fruit flavor. So tasty!
11/2/2018
The flavor notes are there but the coffee is not coming through with a strong flavor, it seems watery. We are brewing it the same we have for years. We will try a finer grind to extract more of the flavor next time.
10/30/2018
Very fruit forward and flavorful. This coffee was delicious and tasted exactly as advertised. I would like to also try something with a deeper/darker flavor.
10/28/2018
Super light and Fruity, Sweet. Great flavor notes with an overall delicate and non overpowering coffee flavor.
10/22/2018
My wife and I brewed it in an Aeropress and in a Chemex and found it was a little more sour and acidic than we usually like
10/20/2018
temperamental brew. took a while to get it right but tasty, delicate flavors. Got some light berry taste.
10/17/2018
Loved everything about this. The notes where perfect for my palette.
10/14/2018
Really love the blueberry and grape notes. Loving how smooth and subtle the flavor notes are coming through. We’re enjoying the exploration of light roast beans. Would love to get into some juicy tropical flavors at some point.
10/6/2018
Could be slightly bolder in profile. I appreciated the nuanced lightness on the palate.
10/5/2018
Very smooth juicy with a soft finish
10/3/2018
This coffee was good but not great. It smelled great in the bag but I didn't find the taste to be that complex and it had some acidity that I didn't like. We adjusted the grind size a couple times which helped round it out but I lost some of the more subtle notes in the coffee. It makes a good cup but nothing I'm excited about. I think I prefer a brighter, fruitier coffees.
9/29/2018
This coffee was great - strawberry-raspberry with lemon-lime finish. We tend to like super-fruity coffees, especially Ethiopian naturals, so we really enjoyed this. It was (accidentally) shipped alongside Onyx's Ethiopia Bensa Shantawene Natural, which I will say we liked a tiny bit better - but both were excellent, berry-forward coffees.
9/26/2018
I liked this coffee. I appreciate a natural processed coffee, but this one tasted pretty standard to me. Berries and acidic. Was not that interesting.
9/25/2018
Loved the fruit jam/floral notes. A coffee with a distinct character.
9/24/2018
I can taste the juicy, grapey notes if I look for them, but they're largely overpowered by a dark bitterness. I tried lowering my water temperature to 201, and that didn't seem to help. Next I set my grind a few clicks more coarse, and I believe that's reduced the bitterness somewhat, but the coffee tastes somewhat green, now.
9/24/2018
I tried medium coarse, medium and medium fine grind on this in a 3-Cup and an 8-Cup Chemex. I tried it unsweetened, sweetened and at different temperatures and it was fairly bland each time. I generally brew at a 12-15:1 water:coffee ratio.
9/23/2018
It has a dryness. Not as savory but I love that fruity Ethiopian light roast punch it gives.
9/21/2018
Really enjoyed it! Loved how light the roast was and how robust the favor was!
9/18/2018
Sweet, fruity
9/17/2018
Loved this. Made it mostly on chemex and it gave great body. Crazy aroma. Reminded me of tart grape candy. There was a good amount of tart acidity but I was impressed by the deep sweet fruit that filled the mouth. The floral notes that lingered were probably my favorite part.
9/14/2018
Such a juicy coffee with light floral notes, and a concentrated fruit quality. Balanced cup of coffee no matter the brewing method.
9/13/2018
The curator has officially lost her coffee mind. This coffee is straight dry and dusty old world wine. That’s great for winos... not for coffee. There is no grape jam, no “juice” and maybe a slight hint of lavender. This is the second bad to meh coffee in a row. After more than a year, I’m just going to buy from my local shops. Not worth the $. Sorry Sam.
9/8/2018
This seemed like a good natural processed light roast. I am definitely getting notes of grape with a delicate lavender smell. It's not as prominent as I would like though ,which makes me wonder if I did not grind/brew it correctly. Would love to hear suggestions on how to properly brew this!
8/27/2018
Loved this!
8/26/2018
Nice balance
8/6/2018
V60/18g:288g/205F
Grind:13
Aroma: Jam-y
Classic natural process flavor
When it’s piping hot, the flavor is lingering on the back of my tongue, but it doesn’t seem overextracted. It’s juicy with a syrupy body.
As it cools, I’m getting more sweetness and the finish moves to the middle of my tongue. That stereotypical Ardi blueberry note pulls through once it’s cooled, as well. I can identify the grape jam note on the bag, and I’m curious how playing with the dose and water temp might bring out the lavender more.
It’s been a while since I’ve had a natural process coffee and this does not disappoint!
Grind:13
Aroma: Jam-y
Classic natural process flavor
When it’s piping hot, the flavor is lingering on the back of my tongue, but it doesn’t seem overextracted. It’s juicy with a syrupy body.
As it cools, I’m getting more sweetness and the finish moves to the middle of my tongue. That stereotypical Ardi blueberry note pulls through once it’s cooled, as well. I can identify the grape jam note on the bag, and I’m curious how playing with the dose and water temp might bring out the lavender more.
It’s been a while since I’ve had a natural process coffee and this does not disappoint!
8/1/2018
Definitely a jammy, fruity natural. It was good but I think I'm not as fond of naturals as I used to be.
8/1/2018
Delish!
7/22/2018
This creates an amazing cup of coffee. I typically make mine via AeroPress which creates a clean, juicy, flavorful cup of coffee.
7/13/2018
Pretty great 4.5/5 stars!
7/12/2018
Difficult to brew, but worth it. Excellent flavor profile.
7/11/2018
Like a lot of Ethiopia coffees, this has a strong berry taste and floral aroma that I love. I personally wouldn't it reminded me of grape jam or lavender as listed in the notes, but it's hard to brew this and not get that bold fruity flavor. I had to grind it a little coarser than other beans since it's naturally processed.
7/10/2018
Probably one of my favorites so far!
6/28/2018
Good, but a little too bright. Increase grind size to 20. Wish there was a little bit more acidity.
6/16/2018
An easy-to-brew, fruit-forward coffee. Could drink this all day.
6/7/2018
Loved it
6/4/2018
Great flavor
6/1/2018
so so so good!
5/25/2018
wow! perfect. thank you.
5/24/2018
Singularly unimpressed with this.
5/21/2018
I love a good Natural Ethiopian coffee. This one didn't disappoint with it's grape / fruit punchiness and floral notes shining as it cooled down. It did have a bit of a heavier body than I prefer which became more apparent as the coffee aged past 14 days to 18 days.
4/26/2018
It wanted to have flavor but just ended kind of muddled despite changes in brewing and grind size.
4/18/2018
A really enjoyable fruit-forward cup! You immediately sink into a juicy burst of grape and blueberry, followed by a touch of acidity. This dominant fruit profile is balanced by a caramel-like sweetness, and subtle floral notes throughout. A great example of a complex natural Ethiopian roast!
4/10/2018
Not as much clarity as I like, but not terrible.
3/22/2018
This has been a very delightful roast so far, and an incredible choice for my first mistobox coffee. Overwhelming taste of grape on the front end follewed with a nice floral finish. I felt like I was taking the Lord's Supper on a sunday drinking some Welches grape juice yo!
3/19/2018
Really excellent. Love this one. I actually had a chance to try it in their shop in San Diego last week too. Great stuff
3/8/2018
Good balance, nice grape jam notes on technivorm. Pronounced lavender notes on chemex.
1/23/2018
What a great coffee! I am so enjoying the flavor notes of this coffee!
12/29/2017
This is my favorite coffee Mistobox has sent me. Brews a flavorful cup that's very light on the nose from Chemex.
12/29/2017
Amazing Ardi! Well done Coava.
12/27/2017
Absolutely delicious! One of the best coffees I've had this entire year. Very juicy, and the flavor just pops right out at you. My favorite way of making it was with my V60.
12/27/2017
It’s not as good as the first time I ordered it. Must be a batch to batch thing.
12/16/2017
Good. A bit dark and so lacking in complexity a little, but all in all, a good cup.
10/24/2017
Tons of fruit on this.
10/23/2017
Best coffee I've received from this subscription.
10/20/2017
Pour over was amazing. Fairly juicy especially within the first 10 days of roast. Great flavor.
10/18/2017
Nice juiciness with fruity blueberry, maybe strawberry notes.
10/13/2017
Delicious. Spot on taste. The smell is intoxicating.
10/2/2017
One of the juicer coffees I've gotten from mistobox. I'm a fan of it. I've only tried it in the chemex so far, but I'm anxious to experiment with this one.
9/27/2017
Very good
9/24/2017
I'm familiar with this farm so I was excited to have this set by another roaster.
There is a great plum flavor in the middle of this cup of coffee and its first sip is almost reminiscent of a jolly rancher hard candy, with a huge burst of over-the top fruit notes. more acidity than I remember with the last Kilenso I had from SLATE roasters. the citrus fruit notes are strong, and the finish on the coffee was very light and floral.
Sadly the beans arrived while I was out of town so I did not get into this until nearly 2 weeks after it was roasted, which may have been a factor in it not meeting my full expectations. or maybe not?!
There is a great plum flavor in the middle of this cup of coffee and its first sip is almost reminiscent of a jolly rancher hard candy, with a huge burst of over-the top fruit notes. more acidity than I remember with the last Kilenso I had from SLATE roasters. the citrus fruit notes are strong, and the finish on the coffee was very light and floral.
Sadly the beans arrived while I was out of town so I did not get into this until nearly 2 weeks after it was roasted, which may have been a factor in it not meeting my full expectations. or maybe not?!
9/22/2017
Best of the best. Incredible aroma of blueberries and lavender. Roast level is perfect for this bean. I especially appreciate that this is a 12 oz bag since Coava normally sells in 250 g bags.
9/17/2017
Big body, really clean finish, super juicy and syrupy.
8/16/2017
Delicious. Sweet and fruity. A really really solid natural.
8/9/2017
Excellent coffee
8/5/2017
I don't think it's too extreme to say that this is some of the best coffee I've ever had in my life. And Coava is one of the best roasters in the country.
7/28/2017
maybe the best cup of coffee ive had in my life. truly smells and tastes like a grape jam with some chocolate. unbelievable taste profile.
7/18/2017
Over the two years of every two week deliveries, this may be the best coffee we have received yet! There was almost no playing around with brew methods, as we had it dialed in right from the start. No matter which method we brewed, whether it was Chemex, Aeropress or French Press, each cup was delicious.
Right off the bat, we get berry acidity with a delicious grape flavor. As it cools, the fruits continue coming through wonderfully, but a subtle notes of vanilla and lavender can be detected.
One recommendation for anyone reading this... if possible, brew it on the Chemex as the clean cup brings out the flavors the best.
Right off the bat, we get berry acidity with a delicious grape flavor. As it cools, the fruits continue coming through wonderfully, but a subtle notes of vanilla and lavender can be detected.
One recommendation for anyone reading this... if possible, brew it on the Chemex as the clean cup brings out the flavors the best.
7/6/2017
Yummy fruit forward cup with a solid back of chocolate. But not quite a 5 star
6/27/2017
One of my favorite ever!
6/22/2017
Very well balanced coffee, no particular flavor note jumped out and dominated. Lavender was perhaps a bit more pronounced closer to the roast date but an overall sweetness dominated as the coffee aged. Complex.
6/21/2017
Maybe I got a bad roast, but this coffee was not good. Upon brewing it gives off a musty smell, almost like boiled cabbage. The taste is a medium roast with almost no appealing flavor notes. It's drinkable, but would never buy it.
6/15/2017
Crazy floral and to me, very unique. Kind of made me think of something like a coffee stout beer or similar – not in flavor per se, but in that the flavor is so intense that I enjoyed it best having only one cup in a day. Really nice coffee!
6/8/2017
1.33%, 20.4% on kalita wave 155. classic lavender and honey. lovely.
5/23/2017
Very unique and fresh feeling coffee. The beans smelled kind of musty so my first impression was doubtful but when it's brewed it makes good mild coffee. I made iced latte with this and I really liked it.
5/18/2017
This has the most smooth taste. Would love to have more like this one.
5/2/2017
Very nutty with a slight hint of stone fruit and maple jam - very good
4/18/2017
Sweet and floral, with moderate acidity. Good as a straight shot, but better as a cappuccino, to mute the acidity and bring out the sweetness and floral aroma. The bag I received was roasted for drip, but I used it for espresso.
4/15/2017
It's great. Espresso and pour over.
4/14/2017
I was expecting this coffee to be a bit more "fruity" and wild. However, it was actually pretty tame... in a good way.
I think it may have been that the coffee beans were just a SMIDGE roasted more than what I'm used to. Not in a bad way, but in a way that, I think, neutralized the coffee flavor and made the fruity/juicy notes less intense?
All around, though, I think this cup was very balanced for my taste. I really enjoyed it. Of the coffees I've tried, this is one that I could see myself using as some sort of staple coffee that stays consistent.
Sidenote: I used both the v60 and Kalita for this. With he Kalita, I used continuous AND pulse pour. The continuous pour seemed to yield the tastiest coffee. I set both on a 3.5/9 grind on my Hanground Coffee Grinder.
I think it may have been that the coffee beans were just a SMIDGE roasted more than what I'm used to. Not in a bad way, but in a way that, I think, neutralized the coffee flavor and made the fruity/juicy notes less intense?
All around, though, I think this cup was very balanced for my taste. I really enjoyed it. Of the coffees I've tried, this is one that I could see myself using as some sort of staple coffee that stays consistent.
Sidenote: I used both the v60 and Kalita for this. With he Kalita, I used continuous AND pulse pour. The continuous pour seemed to yield the tastiest coffee. I set both on a 3.5/9 grind on my Hanground Coffee Grinder.
4/10/2017
I love Natural processed coffees, however no matter what tweaks I made in my brewing techniques, I couldn't draw more out of the coffee. The initial note of light berries was awesome! But there was nothing to follow it. I love Coava and Ethiopias. Felt like there could be more, but overall i did enjoy it
4/2/2017
This coffee surprised me; it was not like any other natural that I've had before. Instead of being juicy and very fruity, I found this to be mellow and delicate. While I generally prefer my naturals to be fruit bombs, this one was still tasty and I enjoyed it as a first-thing-in-the-morning coffee
3/3/2017
This the best one we've had so far! Super tasty, light yet flavorful, not too toasty. Love the subtleness of the coffee!
2/22/2017
was hoping for more fruit/citrus but was good.
2/7/2017
Nice florals and body not as fruit forward as I would have hoped
1/28/2017
I loved this coffee! A great example of a naturally processed coffee.
1/24/2017
A nice floral/fruity cup balanced with just enough roasty coco/caramel finish. Well done!
1/8/2017
Your typical natural Ethiopian coffee. Not to say that's bad, this was a good coffee. I brewed it on the v60 a few times before I used the rest of the bag to make cold brew which turned out really nice. The cold brew had a tea like body with fruity flavor notes
12/16/2016
I got a new grinder recently and it took a few tries to figure out how to properly adjust the grind. I think I finally have it this morning... this coffee is a lot more fruit-forward than I'm used to, but I really like that it's something different. When I buy beans at home, I pay a lot of attention to roast dates and will often throw beans away early when they don't bloom at all after sometime. This one hasn't been blooming from the beginning from the beginning. I know the roast date was December 6 which is great given that it takes a while to get here. My point: given the choice between two different profiles roasted on different days, I would often choose the one roasted most recently. Just as a means of helping with choosing! Back to the coffee. I'm surprised at how much I like this one since it's different for me. This almost tastes refreshing whereas coffees with chocolate, nutty and caramel notes are richer. I love it!
12/14/2016
I really enjoyed it. I should probably try it without a cold to get a better feel. I felt that it was a bit more roasted than the last bag I got.
12/14/2016
I really liked this coffee! It had a burnt flavor once or twice though, but I think that was just user error with the brewing method. I enjoyed the fruity flavors and the lighter color. I don't think I can compare it to the previous coffee that I was sent, because I don't really remember. As I'm learning how to utilize brew methods that work for me, I'm trying to become better at analyzing the flavor profiles of the coffee. I think I'll have a better idea of what to look for in coffee after attending a cupping class or two- ha!
11/19/2016
This coffee was great! I had just got my new espresso machine and grinder so being able to dial in the coffee was fun. I was getting great notes of fruit and a nice sweet finish.
11/17/2016
"A poor workman complains about his tools", but I just couldn't get a good cup out of this. After half a dozen different brew methods I'm just not feeling it. There's a taste I can't place, almost alcohol-y.
11/5/2016
A beautify fruit complexity that soothes the tastebuds
10/18/2016
The quality is outstanding but the grape / raisin aftertaste isn't for me. Otherwise it would be 5 stars,
10/6/2016
I love this! It is definitely the best coffee I've received thus far. It is not bitter at all and has a good amount of acidity. The coffee has a juicy feel and the notes of blueberry and grape jam absolutely come out! This is an awesome Ethiopian coffee.So far, I have only brewed it with a single cup pour-over method, but I look forward to trying it on Aero Press and Chemex! Can't wait for my next coffee!
9/21/2016
Wonderful coffee! Always a fan of Ethiopian!
9/5/2016
Coava's Kilenso is my favorite coffee. The blueberry notes are reminiscent of a blueberry wheat beer, with prominent "natural" funk. A great coffee.
8/1/2016
A very complex cup with a bright red fruit start and a long finish. Not bitter, but not too sweet either. The flavors were highlighted even more when brewed via ice dripped method. An awesome bag overall.
7/25/2016
Amazing! Bright blueberry fruit without being over the top, bright acidity but not overly so. Really balanced, excellent.
7/17/2016
Really enjoyed this one! Very complex, with fruit and chocolate flavors at the same time. Creamy mouthfeel and exceptional aftertaste. Brewed on the V60.
7/6/2016
One of my favorites from mistobox thus far. complex, great in both french press and V60.
6/26/2016
Great coffee! Super fruity and complex! Love it!
6/18/2016
Solid natural. A go-to natural for me here in Portland.
6/7/2016
Love it as espresso when they have it on the bar in their shops. Too much of a fruit bomb in a pour over
6/7/2016
Nice aroma, but not a flavor I look forward to drinking everyday
5/17/2016
Loved this coffee. It's right up my alley with my current tastes right now. Naturally processed, extremely fruity aroma, and smooth multilayered flavors upon sipping. Objectively the flavor upon drinking didn't quite match the amazing aromas I would get when brewing. My favorite part of this coffee was smelling it during and after brewing, the taste was very good, just not THE BEST! Great coffee I would recommend to anyone, especially natural processing fans.
5/5/2016
A really, really solid natural Ethiopian. I even tried mixing it with the Ruby Kenyan with great results.
5/3/2016
Blueberry bomb, super sweet and smooth via Kalita
4/29/2016
Very aromatic out of the bag and after being ground. Well balanced and juicy. Tasting notes are subtle. Have only brewed with Chemex so far, but will be trying later this week with a v60 which usually brings out more of the flavor notes for me.
4/26/2016
i had a very difficult getting a good extraction out of this coffee. I experimented with ratios, brew temp, brew time, grind size, and it was always either over extracted or too flat. To make sure I wasn't overlooking something, i did the same with a bag of ethiopia kurimi beans from Intelligentsia and had none of the same issues. was able to easily dial in a balanced cup. I know Coava is a good brand, and I like naturally processed coffees from Ethiopia, maybe something was wrong with the bag I got?
EDIT: after even further testing, i finally got a decent cup, but it required quite a coarser grind than I anticipated, and still had kind of a dirty finish.
EDIT: after even further testing, i finally got a decent cup, but it required quite a coarser grind than I anticipated, and still had kind of a dirty finish.
4/11/2016
Works well as a pour over and as a slow drip cold brew, but I would love more stone fruit, citrus or berry flavors to come through. This is still a rather subtle cup no matter how i've brewed it.
4/11/2016
Delicious. Hints of blueberry and chocolate. 18g beans, 300g water was perfect for this cup. Any more beans and the acidity is too high for me.
4/5/2016
Fruit forward with a definite grape jam profile as Sam's review suggest. Much brighter and more interesting than most espresso blends.
3/29/2016
I really enjoyed this coffee. This has been my favorite so far. Thank you!
3/29/2016
We love this coffee! Have been wanting to try coffee from Coava for a long time, and it did not disappoint! Love the lavender flavor and subtle fruit notes, would buy this again.
3/15/2016
Solid coffee.. Incredibly lightly roasted and very tea like. It lacks some of the punchiness and tartness found in some Ethiopians but makes up for it with great balance and subtlety and still has that unmistakable bright and citrusy fruit notes found in African coffees. Brewed with Kalita Wave.
3/7/2016
One of my favorites from one of my favorite roasters. Really nice sweet fruit notes. It's nice and aromatic as soon as you open the bag. A rare balance of earthy notes with sweet fruit. A gem of a coffee.
2/27/2016
This was by far my favorite coffee I have been sent this far. My Internet was out of order when I had it so this review is purely from memory. Brewed Kalita Wave. Nose was unique and phenomenal. I had a difficult time putting a finger in it but i smelled lilac, white wine, and a very unique earthyness that carried through to the flavor and finish as well. The earthy flavor was accompanied by marmalade, a fresh mineral flavor I would liken to fresh mountain stream water, fresh soil. I really don't know how to describe the uniqueness of the flavor. Whiskey and wine aficionados often talk of teroir. While I admittedly have never picked up on that abstract concept in my favorite pricey Bourbons and Zinfadels, i believe this cup may have tought me the meaning of that word.. I have never been to a coffee farm or Ethiopia, but this coffee smells tastes and finishes like a distilled version of what I imagine a coffee garden in the. east African mountains might taste like. Long winded but this is not only the best coffee I have ever brewed myself but the best cup I have ever tasted.. I now know why people love Ethiopians so much.
2/24/2016
I have never tasted lavender so had no point of comparison but I did detect what might be grape jam. If I close my eyes and really concentrate. My wife thinks she detects hints of citrus.
2/5/2016
Excellent coffee! Complex and delicious. Just a great cup of coffee.
2/1/2016
Delicious! I love coffee!!!
1/18/2016
Really good! I like how flavorful it is, especially in fruity notes.
1/16/2016
Wow! The grape jam taste was awesome! Low acidity. Would highly recommend this coffee.
1/7/2016
Not as unloved as others I've tried, but still not something I want to finish.
1/6/2016
As described: lavender and grape jam with a long finish. Beautifully fragrant
12/23/2015
Very good. I am really enjoying this coffee. Nice acidity with jammy fruitiness. I get some serious grape in the aroma and taste. Very happy with this choice! I've always loved these types of bright, berry/fruit coffees from Sidama/Yirgacheffe.
12/12/2015
Coava roasts some beautiful coffee. Beans have that chocolate-peanut butter smell. Tastes amazing.
12/6/2015
Very balanced. Grape is the dominant flavor that comes through, all in all an enjoyable cup!
12/5/2015
Definitely grape jam, with cocoa coming through when the coffee is hot from the brew. Grape emerges as the coffee cools and settles in.
10/31/2015
Pretty Balanced and sweet coffee, though i wouldnt call it a very fruity one. Low acidity though, very enjoyable.
3/23/2015