Kenya Gathaithi AA Washed

Tangerine, rhubarb, blackberry jam

Producer: Gathaithi Farmer Cooperative Society

Region: Nyeri County

Elevation: 1120 - 2300m

Varietal: Batian, SL28, SL34, Ruiru 11

Processing: Washed

SCA score: 89

Importer: Cafe Imports

Gathaithi Factory is operated by Gathaithi Farmers Cooperative Society, which has more than 1,100 active members, who farm on about 143 hectares of land in the area. The total production for the cooperative is around 102,000 kgs.

Gathaithi station is where the local members deliver their whole coffee cherry for processing: first pulping in a 3-disc Kenya-style pulping machine, fermenting overnight, then washing away the cherry skins in clean water, and then soaking once more in fresh water before the parchment coffee is laid out to dry on raised drying beds. The average altitude is 1700 meters above sea level, though farms fall on both side of that number. Grade doesn't necessarily correlate to actual cup quality (until you get into C, TT, and below), but we did find this particular AA size separation to stand out from the rest. AA are also the largest screen size at 17-19" and AB are slightly smaller at 15-17".

PROCESSING

Picking Method: selective

Processing Method: Washed

Fermentation Process: Double Wet Fermentation

Drying Process: Sun Drying