This coffee from the Kathakwa Factory is earthy, complex, and sweet. With notes of golden raisin, tart orange peel, rounded out with a smooth caramel finish.

We’ve been fortunate to have some excellent coffees this spring, and as fresh crop Kenyan coffees have been landing in US ports, we’ve had our eye on this origin for July’s selection. We’ve sourced Kenyan coffee for a long while and have always been partial to the classic, earthy flavor profile with a tangy fruit-forward acidity, and this month’s offering fit the bill perfectly. This offering was produced in the hillsides surrounding the Kathakwa Factory in the Embu Region of central Kenya, about 130 kilometers north of the Nation’s capital, Nairobi. The factory and washing station are operated by the Kibugu Farmers Cooperative Society, a local institution that unites the efforts of over one thousand smallholder farmers in the Embu and Kirinyaga regions of central Kenya. Ripe cherry is brought to the mill directly after harvest, then it is pulped, and fermented in a light layer of mucilage for a full day, a process which imparts a sparkling acidity to the cup. Afterwards, this coffee is given a final wash before being slowly dried and agitated on traditional raised beds for up to two weeks. Once done, the green coffee is screened, tested for quality control, and prepared for export. In this cup, you’ll find all the familiar notes you could want in a Kenyan coffee, and we hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we have. Cheers!

Region: Embu, Kenya

Producer: Kibugu Cooperative Society

Cultivar: Batian, SL28, SL34

Process: Washed

Altitude: 1500-1700masl

Roast Degree: Light

Flavor Notes: Golden Raisin, Orange Peel, Caramel