Gachatha

Built in 1963 by the Gachatha Farmer’s Co-operative Society (FCS), the factory now supports about 1,000 smallholder farmers who deliver their coffee cherries for processing. Beyond access to a market, the society supports its farmer members with agricultural inputs and education around better farming practices, ultimately resulting in improved coffee quality that benefits both the farmers and coffee buyers.

Gachatha’s farmers primarily grow SL-28 and SL-34 varieties, well-known for their vibrant flavours. There’s also a smaller mix of disease-resistant varieties like Ruiru-11, K7, and Batian.

These cherries are pulped using a traditional 3-disc pulper, then dry fermented, washed, and density-graded before being laid out on raised beds to dry. If the beds are full, as can happen during the peak of the season, the coffee is soaked in tanks until space opens up.

In the cup, you’ll find a softer version of that classic ‘Kenyan-style’ profile, with a more elegant expression of damson plum, pink fruits, and the sweetness of rapadura sugar.

• Region: Nyeri
• Country: Kenya
• Variety: SL-28, SL-34
• Processing: Washed