Kenya Kiamabara AA Washed

Kenya Kiamabara AA Washed

Roast Level: Light Roast
Best For: Filter
Region: Nyeri
Altitude: 1,600 – 1,900 masl
Plant Varietal: SL28, SL34, Ruiru 11
Tasting Notes: Cherry, Blackcurrant, Tangelo

Kiamabara is a washing station (or factory, as they are called in Kenya) located near Mt. Kenya National Park and the town of Kabare, in Kenya’s Nyeri County. Established in 1995, it is one of two active washing stations – along with its sister factory Gatina – owned by the Mugaga Coffee Farmers’ Cooperative Society (FCS).

Kiamabara receives coffee cherries from 910 of the cooperative’s members, who grow coffee trees on nearby farms, located between 1,600 – 1,900 meters above sea level. Farmers who deliver to Kiamabara have on average of around a quarter of a hectare of coffee (around 200 trees), and grow the crop alongside macadamias, bananas, maize and beans.

Once harvested, coffee cherries are delivered to Kiamabara, where they are processed and dried under the management of John Gichuki, ahead of dried parchment being transported to Nairobi for milling and sale (either directly or through the auction system). The factory sits at 1,600m above sea level, on the slopes of Mt. Kenya, and is located near the Kingu river. Fresh, clean water is pumped from Kingu to process coffee, contributing to its exceptional quality.