KENYA Kiriaini LAVE

🍐 A clean and complex washed Kenyan – Kiriani, Muranga

Farm: Smallholder plots around Kiriani village
Producers: 571 members of the Thikagiki Cooperative
Region: Muranga, Kenya
Altitude: 1700–1900 m
Species: Arabica
Variety: SL28, SL34, Batian, Ruiru 11
Harvest: May to July
Harvesting Method: Hand-picked
Process: Washed
Drying: Sun-dried on African beds

About this coffee

This lot comes from the Kiriani washing station in Muranga, just south of Nyeri, where 571 smallholder farmers deliver ripe red cherries to be processed under the Thikagiki Cooperative. The station was established in 1974 and remains a key hub for high-quality coffee production in the region.

The farms sit at 1700–1900 metres, where rich volcanic soils and cool nights create optimal growing conditions. The cup profile reflects this unique terroir: slow cherry maturation, higher sugar concentration, and excellent clarity.

The lot features Kenya’s iconic SL28 and SL34, known for their deep root systems and drought resistance, alongside newer, disease-resistant cultivars Batian and Ruiru 11. After selective hand-picking, cherries are depulped, fermented for 12–16 hours, washed, then sun-dried on raised beds, turned frequently for even drying.

Expect a bright and refined cup with black tea aromatics, a touch of lemon zest, soft pear sweetness, and a lingering brown sugar finish.

A beautifully balanced Kenyan — structured, fresh, and full of character.