Kenya — Gathaithi Farmers Cooperative Society Batian, SL28, SL34 & Ruiru 11 (Washed, Peaberry)

Tastes Like — 🌸 Floral • 🍑 Stone Fruit • 🍬 Toffee

DETAILS

• Producer: 1,100+ smallholder farmers, Gathaithi FCS
• Region: Nyeri, Kenya
• Varietal: Batian, SL28, SL34 & Ruiru 11
• Process: Washed
• Elevation: 1,120–2,300 masl
• Harvest: November–January
• Grade: Peaberry

INTRO
The Gathaithi Factory is operated by the Gathaithi Farmers Cooperative Society, used by over 1,100 smallholder farmers harvesting across about 143 hectares — a light roast with floral notes, stone fruit sweetness, and a toffee finish. In the cup: floral, stone fruit, and toffee.

THE PRODUCER
Because most Kenyan coffee farmers own very small plots, deliveries are made in cherry form to the local factory for sorting and processing, where they're blended into day lots to improve traceability. Nyeri sits between Mt. Kenya and the Aberdare Mountains — historically the centre of Kenya's coffee production, thanks to rich soil and fresh water flowing down from the mountains. The region is home to the Kikuyu people, who have lived between the mountains for centuries, amid forests, wildlife, eucalyptus, bamboo, and rainforest.

THE PROCESS
Coffee is picked ripe and depulped the same day, then fermented in open-air concrete tanks for one to two days. It's washed thoroughly using water channels, then soaked underwater for 12 to 72 hours — a soaking step fairly unique to Kenyan processing — before spreading on raised beds to dry in the sun.

The extended underwater soak, combined with this lot's peaberry grading, is the defining step — it's what builds the concentrated floral aromatics and stone fruit sweetness behind this cup, finishing on a toffee-like sweetness.

THE CUP
Floral and sweet — delicate floral aromatics lead, with stone fruit sweetness through the middle and a toffee finish.

Flavour Notes
🌸 Floral 🍑 Stone Fruit 🍬 Toffee