Kenya Kirinyaga Washed

This coffee was grown in the southern foothills of Mt. Kenya in the agrarian county of Kirinyaga. The region is well-known for its small coffee farms and snow-capped mountain peaks. Kirinyaga is the Kikuyu name for Mt. Kenya and translates roughly to "mountain of whiteness" or "mountain of brightness". The local Kikuyu people believe that the mountain is sacred and their god Ngai, also known as Mwene Nyaga, lives in the snow on the highest peaks. The Kikuyu still build their homes with the doors facing the mountain.

Almost all of the coffee farmers in Kenya, around 99%, are smallholders who cultivate fewer than 5 acres each. These farmers are organized into many different Farmer Cooperative Societies (FCS), all of which operate at least one factory, or washing station.

Built in 1995 at the foot of Mt. Kenya, Kii is one of three factories owned and operated by the Rungeto FCS. The nearby Kii River supplies fresh clean water for the coffee washing process. In recent years, great efforts have been made to first improve and then ensure coffee quality from Kii. The coffees produced there are consistently complex and clean.

Farmers selectively hand pick their ripe coffee cherries and deliver them directly to the local factory. Cherries are hand sorted at intake and damaged, over ripe, and under ripe cherries are removed. They are pulped, dry fermented for 16 to 26 hours, and washed in clean water. The coffee is then soaked for 12 to 48 hours in clean water that is replaced every 5 hours. Finally, the coffee is spread out on raised beds in the sun to dry for 7 to 15 days. Throughout the drying process, the coffee is frequently turned, covered during the hottest part of the day, and inspected.

Kenyan coffees are carefully graded. The beans are sorted and rated by size as well as shape, color, and density. The general assumption is that bigger coffee beans are higher in quality as they have more essential oils that enhance tastes and aromas. The largest coffee beans from Kenya are just over 1/4 inch in diameter and graded Kenya AA.

This Kenya AA coffee is full of flavor. The cup is mellow and soft with notes of ripe plum and dark chocolate brightened by a lively lime zest. The aroma and initial flavor is a delightfully nostalgic sweet creamy tomato sauce, reminding many of us of Spaghetti-os (in the best possible way).