The coffee is wet processed, where the fully ripe cherries are:
- Pulped
- Fermented for 12 - 48 hours (depending on climatic conditions)
- Washed
- Dried slowly over 2 - 3 weeks on raised African beds until the moisture content is reduced to 10-12%.
The coffee is then processed at Othaya dry mill (on the same site) where it is rested in parchment for 3 weeks before being hulled, cleaned and graded by bean size. Finally, the coffee is carefully handpicked before being bagged in GrainPro for export from Mombasa.
Gatuyaini wetmill is part of Othaya Farmers’ Cooperative Society Limited, one of a few washing stations or “factories” that form the co-op group based in the heartland of Kukuyu territory, Nyeri.
At 1,981m above sea level it is the highest grown and processed coffee in the society and amongst the highest in the whole region. The mill processes coffee cherries sourced from almost 800 farmers. The total farmed area is 69.1 acres with individual trees yielding between 5 and 10kg of cherries per season, though drought during the 2016/17 crop has led to much lower yields in many of the coffee producing regions of Kenya.
The Region
Nyeri County has cool temperatures and fertile central highlands, lying between the Eastern base of the Aberdare (Nyandarua) Range, which forms part of the Eastern end of the Great Rift Valley, and the Western slopes of Mt. Kenya.
Nyeri town (county headquarters) acts as a destination for those visiting Aberdare National Park and Mt. Kenya.
The combination of fertile soil, seasonal rainfall and high altitude provide the ideal climate for coffees characterised by high acidity, full body and ripe fruit flavours. Most coffees from Nyeri develop and mature slowly producing extra hard beans. This quality is also evident in the cup.
- All our coffee is packed in 200g, 500g or 1kg foil-lined and valved bags
- All our coffees are roasted to order so we require at least one working day before we can despatch your order
- Standard delivery is charged at £2 per order (mainland UK)
For all orders over £15 (before delivery) or over 2KG in weight, delivery is FREE