1000g - Kenya, AA Gakundu - Light roast

Discover the full, sweet and elegant taste of Kenya!

This AA top plot is from the Gakundu factory, run by the Gakundu Farmer's Co-operative Society in Embu. The factory is located at an altitude of 1,650 m and processes coffee berries from 1,262 local smallholders. Farmers are encouraged to mix in bananas and maize, as well as Grevillea and Macadamia trees to provide shade and promote soil health. Through a central fund set aside from the previous year's harvest, co-owners can access funding for farm inputs, school fees and other investments. Members also have easy access to inputs, Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) seminars and training in sustainable agriculture. The overall goal is to increase production and quality for members to secure higher incomes.

The coffee berries are hand-sorted by the farmers before going into production. The pulp is removed and the coffee ferments for 24-36 hours under close shade depending on climate temperatures. After fermentation, the coffee is washed and graded again by density in washing channels. They are then taken to drying tables where they will be sun-dried on African drying beds for 12 to 20 days (this time depends on weather conditions). The coffee is covered with plastic during the day and at night to protect the beans from nighttime humidity and rain.

The Embu region is located in the southeastern foothills of Mount Kenya, the highest mountain in the country and the second highest in Africa after Kilimanjaro. The extinct volcano forms the backdrop to much of the surrounding country, and contributes to the fertility of the soil and cool air that allows Kenyan coffee to develop such excellence in the cup.

Embu borders Kirinyaga County to the west and is one of Kenya’s traditional coffee growing regions. Agriculture represents the largest sector of the local economy, with specialty coffee playing an important role as a cash crop, along with tea and macadamia nuts.

Kenya: An Overview

Kenya is best known for producing high-quality, fully washed coffee and is considered by many to be one of the world's top quality producers. There are over 700,000 coffee farmers, accounting for about 55% of total production. The rest is produced mainly by large farms called "Estates".

Almost all coffee in Kenya is grown by small farmers, each with 1-2 hectares of land. Many of these farmers grow different crops and sometimes have as few as 100 coffee trees. These farmers are organized into cooperatives that act as umbrella organizations for the factories (wet mills) where the small farmers deliver their coffee cherries for processing.

Since Kenya uses a traditional auction system, high quality is rewarded with higher prices. The best factories attract more farmers by producing coffee that can be sold at the highest prices. This extra income is then returned to the farmers as a second payment. After marketing and processing costs have been deducted, this amount can sometimes amount to 90% of the sales price.

Facts about the coffee:

Score: 88.5/100

Grows: 1700 - 1800 m.a.s.l.

Species: SL-34, SL-28

Process: Washed

Taste: Peach, vanilla, cherry

We ship coffee that has rested for up to three weeks after roasting when available, and roast to order when needed. We ship coffee within a week of ordering.