Kenya washed Arabica AA Top Githaiti

Afloat (expected arrival: 10/06/2024)
Quantity Available: 18 GrainPro bags of 60kg
SKU
103369.4-1708
More Information
Unit of Measure GrainPro bags of 60kg
Status Afloat
Warehouse On Ship
Bag Type Grain Pro
ETA Oct 6, 2024
Crop 23/24
Batch 103369.4
Variety SL28, SL34, Ruiru 11, Batian
Region Muranga
Process Washed
Grade AA Top
Producer Gathaithi Factory

Coffee was first introduced to Kenya in the 1890s when French missionaries brought Bourbon seeds from the island of Reunion. Today, the total area under coffee cultivation in the East African nation sums up to 160,000 hectares. It is the fifth-largest coffee producer in Africa and it is recognized worldwide as a prominent specialty coffee origin.

Kenyan coffee is grown by both large estates and also smallholder farmers, who often join cooperatives. Normally, coffee is sold via auctions that take place weekly during harvest season. Pricing between buyer and seller is defined by cup quality and grading, which is mostly depending on bean size. Besides being known for this grading system, the SL-28 and SL-34 varieties, developed in Scott Laboratories in Kenya, attract great interest for their high cup quality potential.

In Central Kenya you can find the coffee-producing region of Murang’a, located between Nyeri and Thika. The area is home to around 100,000 coffee farmers, often smallholders. This coffee was produced here by members of the Githaiti Factory, part of the Kariua Farmers Cooperative Society. The factory lies in the heart of Murang'a County, nestled amidst rolling hills and fertile volcanic soil.

The factory is a testament to the dedication and skill of its 400 farmers who meticulously cultivate and process their coffee. The journey begins with the careful selection of ripe cherries, which are then brought to the factory and undergo a traditional washed process. The beans are de-pulped and then fermented in shaded concrete tanks for 12-16 hours. Following fermentation, the beans are washed and spread out on drying tables under the warm Kenyan sun for 10-12 days. This meticulous attention to detail is what sets Githaiti coffee apart, resulting in beans of exceptional quality and consistency.

The equator passes directly through this East African gem. Despite its tropical climate, Kenya experiences some nice cool-offs through the Indian Ocean and Lake Victoria. Flat savannahs home to an abundance of wildlife rise to central highlands, peaked by Mount Kenya at 5,199 m. It is here, where lush slopes are turned into fertile farmlands, creating ideal conditions for cofThe equator runs right through this pearl of East Africa. Despite its tropical climate, Kenya is cooled by the Indian Ocean and Lake Victoria. From the flat savannahs with their diverse flora and fauna rise the highlands, whose highest peak is Mount Kenya at 5,199 meters. Here, where the lush slopes give way to fertile farmland, the coffee plant thrives.

The combination of red volcanic soil, high altitudes, and an ideal climate have a decisive impact on the fruity, nearly juicy aromas characterizing these coffees. Due to its geographical location on the equator, there is only little distinction between the different seasons in Kenya.

As opposed to its neighbor Ethiopia, coffee cultivation is relatively new to the county and only started in the early 1900s. Today, agriculture is the major contributor to Kenya's GDP, among which coffee ranks third behind tea and horticultural produce. The total area under coffee cultivation in Kenya is estimated at 160,000 hectares.

Plantations make up about one-third of the area. However, the largest part of the land is used by smallholder farmers who assign themselves to cooperatives. Coffee is mostly sold via auctions that take place weekly during harvesting season. Pricing between buyer and seller is defined by cup quality and grading, depending on the bean size. Coffee beans screened above 17/18 are named "AA" and are the biggest of their kind. The added "Top" or "Plus" refers to the cup profile.

 

CONTINENTAfrica
COFFEE REGIONSMt. Kenya, Murang'a, Meru, Kiambu
COFFEE ALTITUDES1,200 – 2,300 masl.
VARIETIESSL-28, SL-34, Ruiru 11, Batian
HARVEST PERIODOct – Feb (Main Crop), Jun – Aug (Fly Crop)
COFFEE FARMSSmallholders and plantations
AVERAGE FARM SIZE0.5 – 5.5 ha
YEARLY PRODUCTION (IN 60KG BAGS)844,000 
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