Gachika AB, Washed | Kenya

Kenya — Gachika Factory, AB Grade, SL28 / Ruiru 11 / Batian (Washed)

Tastes Like — 🍑 Apricot • 🍑 Peach • 🥭 Mango

DETAILS

• Producer: Gachika Factory
• Farm: Gachika Factory
• Region: Kiambu, Kenya
• Varietal: SL28, Ruiru 11, Batian
• Process: Washed
• Grade: AB
• Size: 250g

INTRO

Gachika Factory delivers a vibrant and expressive Kenyan AB that's impossible to overlook. Situated in the Kiambu region — one of Kenya's most respected coffee-growing counties — the factory processes cherry from smallholder farmers growing SL28, Ruiru 11, and Batian varieties across the surrounding hills.

The result is a clean and expressive seasonal offering built around ripe stone fruit and tropical mango, balanced by a subtle savoury restraint that keeps the cup interesting from first sip to last.

THE PRODUCER

Gachika Factory is a wet mill in Kenya's Kiambu region, operating under the cooperative model that has long been central to Kenyan coffee production. Smallholder farmers in the area deliver ripe cherry to the factory, where meticulous wet processing and grading ensure consistent quality across each lot.

Kiambu is one of Kenya's most historically significant coffee counties, lying just north of Nairobi. Its volcanic, well-drained soils and high altitude create ideal conditions for the SL varieties — bred by Scott Laboratories in the 1930s and 1940s — that are synonymous with Kenyan coffee's celebrated fruit-forward, high-acidity profile.

THE PROCESS

The Washed process at Gachika Factory involves:

• 🍒 Cherry Intake — Ripe cherry delivered by smallholder members
• ✅ Flotation — Cherries floated to remove defects and unripe fruit
• 🔧 Pulping — Fruit skin removed mechanically
• 📅 Fermentation — Traditional Kenyan wet fermentation in tanks
• 💧 Washing & Grading — Washed in channels; AB grade separated by screen size
• ☀️ Drying — Dried on raised African beds

The classic Kenyan wet process draws out the fruit's natural sugars and acidity, producing the clean, structured cup that defines the country's finest export grades.

THE CUP

A clean, bright Kenyan with the hallmarks of the region: ripe apricot and peach supported by juicy tropical mango, with a hint of savoury complexity that adds depth without disrupting the overall harmony. Expressive, structured, and eminently drinkable.

Flavour Notes

• 🍑 Apricot
• 🍑 Peach
• 🥭 Mango