Ndocha, Filter - Kenya

Ndocha is a family-owned coffee farm in Kiambu County, on the foothills of Mount Kenya, owned and managed by Geoffrey Gachogo Karugondo. The farm was originally part of a larger family estate inherited by Geoffrey and his siblings, who now manage three neighbouring plots and share the family wet mill.

The approximately 25-hectare estate benefits from cool temperatures and rich, red volcanic soils, with coffee grown alongside food crops. The family also keeps livestock, using manure together with coffee pulp to produce compost and support soil health.

SL28 is the farm's primary variety, originally planted by Geoffrey's grandfather and carefully regenerated over generations. More recently, Geoffrey has introduced Ruiru 11.

During harvest, the family employs up to 50 local pickers, trained to select only ripe red cherries. Each day's harvest is carefully hand-sorted before processing, with the coffee pulped later the same day under the supervision of Geoffrey's sister, Peris.

The parchment is dry fermented for up to 24 hours, before being washed and graded in clean water channels using water from the nearby Komothai River. The coffee is then carefully dried on raised African beds for up to three weeks, regularly turned to ensure even drying and protected from rain and condensation overnight.

Once it reaches 11–12% moisture, the coffee is transferred to the Komothai County dry mill, selected for its strong traceability, before being prepared for export.

• Region: Central Kenya
• Country: Kenya
• Elevation: 1,690 - 1,720 masl
• Variety: SL28, Ruiru 11
• Processing: Washed