TASTING NOTES

JUICY, PEACH, JASMINE TEA, GRAPEFRUIT

ROASTING

The process of applying heat to green coffee beans to transform it’s chemical & physical properties,  resulting in roasted coffee beans that can be brewed.

LIGHT ROAST

Lighters roasts allow for the maximum regionally-defined inherent flavors of the green beans to come through. Since Kenyan coffees are generally juicy and tea-like, we roasted this light to allow for those flavors to shine through the cup.

REGION

Similar to Napa Valley or Burgundy for wine, the region where a coffee is grown can tell us a lot about the coffee.

NYERI DISTRICT, KARATNA DIVISION

  • Nyeri is home to some of the best Kenyan coffees.
  • Located in the central highlands of Kenya, between Abardere mountains & the southwest slopes of Mount Kenya.
  • Great coffee due to the rich, red volcanic loam soil.

PRODUCER

The farm & mill where the coffee cherry is grown & processed.

GATOMBOYA WASHING STATION / BARICHU CO-OP

  • This coffee is from the Gatomboya washing station in the Nyeri region in Kenya, where the coffee gets pulped, fermented, washed and dried.
  • Gatomboya is one of the four mills that form the Barichu Farmer Co-operative Society, which consists of about 700 farmers from four surrounding villages.

PROCESSING

The method by which the green coffee bean is removed from the fruit & then dried & stored can affect the taste of the coffee.

WET PROCESSED (WASHED)

  • Wet processing: Bean is dried only after the fruit covering the bean has been removed by fermenting until it can be easily washed off.
  • Most common processing method & preferred over dry or natural processing techniques.
  • Generally produces cleaner & more consistent flavor

GRADE

The grade of the coffee bean indicates quality. The method of grading differs from region to region

AA

  • Kenyan beans are graded by bean size and density.
  • Larger size is generally associated with more flavor & aroma.
  • AA is the highest graded coffee in Kenya and offers better cup clarity than the AB.

VARIETAL

Most wine drinkers know whether they prefer a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Merlot. Similarly, the Arabica coffee plant has several botanical varieties, each with unique taste characteristics.

SL-28 & SL-34

Varietals of Bourbon that were selected by Scott Laboratories (hence SL) in Kenya during the colonial years.

SL-28

  • Known for it’s sweetness, blackcurrant-like acidity & high complexity.
  • Great cup quality, some of the most treasured cups.
  • Grown 1000 meters and above.
  • Not very high yielding.

SL-34

  • SL-34 is grown in middle altitudes.
  • Better yield than SL-28.