Kenya Organic Meru Gichugene AB

This coffee comes from smallholder farmers in Meru County, on the northern slopes of Mount Kenya. The region is known for its high elevations, rich volcanic soils, cool temperatures, and fertile growing conditions, all of which contribute to the bright and distinctive character found in Kenyan coffees.

The coffee is produced through the Gichugene Coffee Factory, one of four coffee factories managed by the Katheri Farmers Cooperative Society. The cooperative system is an important part of Kenya’s coffee industry, allowing smallholder farmers to work together in processing and marketing their coffee. Most farms in the area are small family plots, with coffee growing alongside other crops.

In the cup, this coffee offers a combination of ripe plum, crisp green grape, and delicate honey sweetness. The fruit character brings a juicy, lively quality, while the honey note adds a soft sweetness and balance. Together, these flavors create a clean and vibrant cup with the bright acidity and fruit-forward character often associated with high-elevation Kenyan coffees.

The coffee is fully washed, with freshly harvested cherries carefully sorted before processing. The cherries are depulped and fermented in water for 12–16 hours, then washed and transferred to raised drying beds. The parchment is slowly dried for approximately 28 days until it reaches the ideal moisture level, helping preserve the coffee’s clarity and stability.

Grown at approximately 1,630 meters above sea level and made from traditional Kenyan varieties including SL28, SL34, Ruiru 11, and Batian, this lot showcases the combination of careful processing and unique growing conditions that make coffees from the Meru region so distinctive.