Gatina Washing Station, located just a few kilometers from Karatina in Nyeri County, Kenya, epitomizes the essence of small-scale specialty coffee cultivation. Operated by the dedicated Mugaga Farmers’ Cooperative Society, this station is a hub of meticulous coffee production. With 790 members, including over 30% women, farming a total of 142 hectares collectively, each farmer tends to a mere fraction of a hectare, nurturing their few hundred coffee trees with care and precision. This intimate scale allows for a sharp focus on specialty processing, ensuring that only the ripest cherries are picked and processed to perfection. Farm labor is a family affair, and many of these dedicated farmers also cultivate tea, maize, and legumes to bolster their income. Cherry selection is paramount, and any subpar fruit is sent home with farmers to dry separately, promoting a culture of excellence. After being pulped, fermented, and meticulously dried on raised beds for 7 to 15 days, the parchment coffee embarks on its journey to Kahawa Bora Millers, a sister company, which further preserves quality and traceability.
Mugaga Farmers’ Cooperative Society manages five such washing stations, supporting over 4,800 member farmers. Beyond enhancing yields and combating pests and disease, Mugaga empowers its members, notably achieving an impressive third of its membership being women—an accomplishment in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Through their microlot program and the purchase of Kahawa Bora Mill, traceability and recognition for small estate owners have been significantly amplified. This not only benefits farmers but also strengthens the connection between roasters and consumers, fostering lasting relationships and added value for the exceptional Kenyan coffees that have gained global recognition for their meticulous preparation and exquisite flavors. In Kenya, where coffee growing predominantly consists of smallholders farming fewer than 5 acres, these farmers, organized into countless cooperative societies, constitute the heart of the coffee industry, upholding the country’s unwavering commitment to quality and attention to detail at every washing station.
What is Single Origin Coffee? Unlike coffee blends, Single Origin Coffee has a single geographic origin. This could be a single farm or a single country. For the majority of these coffees, we will have a direct relationship with the farmer who grows them. Because coffee is a crop, harvesting is seasonal and the timing is specific to each region, our selection of single-origin coffees will vary throughout the year.
To make it extra special, we commissioned local artist, Alicia Binkley of Monkey Ink Design to illustrate our Single Origin labels. Enjoy!
To provide you with the freshest product, all coffee is sold as Whole Bean by default. If you would like your coffee ground please select from the dropdown.
Shipping Policy: Your order is important to us and we pack and ship as quickly as possible. Orders placed before 2pm CST Monday-Thursday are processed and shipped within 1-2 business days. All orders placed Friday – Sunday are processed on Monday and shipped within 1-2 business days.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.