Kenya

Kariaini AB

Within the Kirinyaga County is the Kariaini Coffee Factory, belonging to the Mwirua Farmers’ Cooperative Society (FCS). In Kenya, factories are essentially wet mills and collection points for coffee. Kariaini Factory was founded back in 1954 at Mukure location in Kirinyaga County, one of eight belonging to the Mwirua FCS.

Farm Kariaini Factory
Varietal Batian, Ruiru 11, SL 28, SL 34
Process Fully washed
Altitude 1,600 meters above sea level
Region Kirinyaga County
Owner Mwirua FCS
Tasting Notes Brown sugar, dates, lemon

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Kariaini AB

After the producers gather their ripe cherries, they will deliver them to the Factory. Once the cherries reach the mill, the coffee is pulped within 24 hours to remove the external fruit from the coffee bean. This is done via a disc pulping machine. The coffee is then soaked in cement tanks with water for 18 – 48 hours to break down the remaining mucilage. Following fermentation, the coffee is evenly dispersed on wooden raised beds lined with mesh wiring to allow for airflow to evenly dry the beans. The coffee is spread in layers no thicker than 3cm, and dry in the open sun for 5 – 30 days, and are raked three times a day to ensure even drying.

About Kenya

Despite its proximity to the birthplace of coffee, Ethiopia, coffee growing was introduced in Kenya relatively late – by Scottish missionaries, initially, and then commercially around 1900. Despite the late start, today, it is a country renowned for having some of the best coffees in the world. Nonetheless, Kenya’s coffee sector faces challenges for the future, and low global prices combined with climate change and population growth have diminished the country’s output over the last decade.