Kayu AB
Within the Murang’a County along the slopes of the Aberdare Range is the Kayu Factory, or wet mill. 1,931 smallholders in this region contribute coffee cherries to this mill and belong to the New Kiriti Farmers Co-operative Society.
Situated at 1,650 meters above sea level, this region is defined by its bright red soils, full of rich nutrients for coffee trees. The high altitude allows for ideal temperatures and rainfall for the slow maturation of coffee cherries. Smallholders in this region grow coffee on small plots of land and pick the cherries during harvest to deliver to the mill. There are two harvests in the Murang’a County, one occurring from March – May and another from October – December.
- Farm Kayu Factory
- Varietal Ruiru 11
- Process Fully washed
- Altitude 1,650 meters above sea level
- Region Murang’a County
- Owner 3,500 smallholder producers
- Tasting Notes Red currents, blackberries and cranberries with florals notes
- Farm Size 138 hectares in total
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.