Kenya Gatagua Muranga AA

This coffee came to us from smallholders in the Murang-a area of central Kenya whose cherries were collected at the Gatagua “factory” – industry lingo for the processing facility where whole cherries are stripped of fruit and dried. Good processing makes a difference in the cup, and beans from Gatagua are in high demand because of their meticulous approach. 

The Gatagua Farmers Cooperative Society (FCS) is made up of almost 900 members, each cultivating about 2.5 acres of coffee trees. Murang’a, about 60 miles northeast of Nairobi, backs onto the temperate slopes of the Aberdare Mountain range to the west. Here, fertile red volcanic soils provide plenty of nutrients for growing trees while warm daytime and cooler nighttime temperatures create the best environment for beans to develop slowly, which enhances their natural sweetness. It’s common for farmers in this area to cultivate coffee trees alongside other food crops. 

Gatagua means “gathering” in Kikuyu, a local Bantu language. The cooperative was formed by three cooperatives that split off from another to “gather” into a new cooperative society. Beginning in 2019, a partnership with Kahawa Bora, which provides milling and agricultural support, has helped to improve yields and quality while increasing the prices members receive for cherry.

We thought the crisp refinement of this coffee would be a perfect complement to these warmer summer days. We tasted plenty of dark fruits (date, raisin) with some nice floral high notes, all backed by a honey-like, almost syrupy body.  Great hot or brewed over ice!