Although coffee cultivation began relatively late in Kenya, the industry has gained and maintained an impressive reputation, currently boasting an average annual production estimated at 800,000 kilograms of coffee. From its inception, coffee from this region has been recognized for its meticulous preparation, resulting in exceptional quality and flavor.
Kenya's coffee market system is complex and quite unique. The Coffee Board of Kenya was established in 1933, and just the following year, a government-run weekly auction system was implemented, which continues to operate today. The auction system also created a pricing structure designed to reward higher quality coffee with higher prices.
Today, these auctions are widely recognized as the most transparent mechanism for setting prices for green coffee and are considered one of the best auction systems in the world. This system even served as inspiration for the renowned Cup of Excellence auctions.
New legislation in 2006 and 2018 provided farmers with additional opportunities to sell their coffee. While the auction system was mandatory before 2006, the 2018 legislation created a "second window" that allowed coffee growers to sell directly to international buyers . Thanks to this legislation, we can now proudly say that for several seasons we have been working directly with small producers who have their own processing facilities .
Although permitted by law, this important fact is quite unusual in this region, as the purchase and sale of coffee cherries is considered illegal in Kenya . What does this mean? It means that producers must first hire a processing service (to process their cherries) and then a marketing service (which will handle the export), preventing them from having full control over their coffee. As a result, they often end up as members of cooperatives that process their coffee alongside that of other producers.
In our case, we have established long-term relationships with small producers who have facilities on their farms (or shared with one of their neighbors) that allow them to process their own cherries, maintaining full traceability of their batches. One example is Jackson Wanjohi, a producer from the Nyeri region who has grown and processed the batch that makes up our August Experience Subscription: 'JAGWAN PB' .
Most of the coffee plants on Jackson's farm are SL28, SL34, Riuru 11, and Batian varieties, planted in the 1960s . The lot we've chosen for this subscription experience is a washed-processed lot grown at 1,850 meters above sea level. The initials PB stand for Peaberry , meaning this lot is composed exclusively of this type of bean, a natural mutation in the coffee cherry highly valued for adding even more complexity to this type of bean.
The result is a spectacular batch with floral and fresh aromas of citrus and tropical fruits . A very complex coffee, well-rounded, dense, and with a lot of personality. Notes of forest berries, papaya, and passion fruit with hints of mandarin. A burst of flavor and personality that we bring you directly from Kenya and that we hope will brighten your return to routine.