Nesru Aba Nura Espresso

Thunguri is a washing station located in the Nyeri coffee-growing region, specifically in the Mukurweini district of Kenya. This is where the coffees of the Rumukia cooperative are processed, where around 425 small producers deliver their cherries each season. In Africa, it is common for coffee farmers to form cooperatives due to the large number of small plots on which they grow coffee, thus facilitating the processing and sale of their harvests.

Gladys Wanjiru oversees each batch processed at Thunguri, ensuring high quality standards are maintained. The process begins with the coffee farmers manually selecting the ripe cherries, which are then fermented, washed, and dried on African coffee beds under strict supervision. This attention to detail is essential to preserving the unique characteristics of the coffee, which benefits from the exceptional conditions of the area's volcanic soil, rich in minerals and organic matter, as well as a variable climate that enhances the plant's development.

The Thunguri washing station, one of the Rumukia cooperative's largest, receives cherries grown on volcanic soils at over 1,700 meters above sea level. Producers focus on harvesting ripe cherries of varietals such as Ruiru 1, SL 28, SL 34, and Batian. After delivering their produce, the Thunguri team meticulously oversees the fermentation and drying processes, ensuring each batch achieves the highest quality.

In addition to the wet mill, Thunguri has machinery for the threshing process and storage warehouses. Within its facilities, there is a small laboratory where the team cups the coffees to perform quality controls at each stage of the process.

Thunguri is a clear example of how producers and cooperatives can align around quality and production, working together to offer exceptional coffees that reflect the richness of Nyeri's terroir.