Shoebox Coffee Roasters - Ichuga AA Washed | Kenya

Kenya — Kiama FCS Ichuga Washing Station SL-28, SL-34, Batian & Ruiru (Washed, AA)

Tastes Like — 🍒 Black Cherry Cola • 🍇 Red Currant • 🌼 Honeysuckle

DETAILS

• Producer: 835 smallholder farmers organized around Kiama FCS
• Washing Station: Ichuga
• Region: Nyeri, Kenya
• Varietal: Field Blend of SL-28, SL-34, Batian & Ruiru
• Process: Washed
• Altitude: 1,800 masl (average)

INTRO A classically processed, double-washed lot from Ichuga washing station in Nyeri — exactly what you'd expect from a Nyeri coffee. Red currant and black cherry cola lead, with abundant citric aromatics of lemon and lime zest, before a beautiful honeysuckle floral note rises as it cools and lingers long into the finish. In the cup: black cherry cola, red currant, and honeysuckle.

THE PRODUCER Ichuga washing station is owned by the Kiama Farmers Cooperative Society (FCS) and managed by Stephen Kinyua, processing cherry for over 835 smallholder farmers across the surrounding Nyeri county. On average, these farmers tend to just half a hectare or fewer than 300 trees, growing at roughly 1,800 masl. Kiama FCS was established in 2005 after a merger between two neighbouring co-ops, eventually growing to represent over 3,000 smallholders across four washing stations — Gachuiro, Kiangundo, Ichuga, and Kiamaina. Following 2023 government reforms that changed how Kenyan coffee exports are handled, Kiama obtained its own export license, allowing it to bargain directly with buyers and better advocate for fairer prices on behalf of its members.

THE PROCESS This lot is a classically processed, double-washed Kenyan coffee — cherries are pulped, fermented, and washed twice, a method that builds the clean, red-fruit-forward character and citric brightness typical of Nyeri.

The double-wash process is the defining step — it's what produces the abundant citric aromatics and clean red currant and cherry cola character, while allowing the honeysuckle florality to fully emerge as the cup cools.

THE CUP Red fruit-forward and citric — red currants and black cherry cola up front, with lemon and lime zest aromatics throughout. A beautiful honeysuckle floral tone rises as it cools, lingering long on the finish.

Flavour Notes 🍒 Black Cherry Cola 🍇 Red Currant 🌼 Honeysuckle