Just south of the equator, about an hour’s drive northeast of the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, lies the county of Murang’a. The district sits along the Aberdare Range, running north to south, and Mount Kenya just to the west, the second highest peak in Africa after Kilimanjaro. To the east, the Range gently falls away as rainforest blends into lush bamboo, with elephants, buffalo, monkeys, cats and the endangered Black Rhino. It is nearby, on the slopes of the Aberdare, in this remarkable county, coffee trees thrive in the ideal weather conditions and rich, red volcanic soil. Roughly 700 smallholder farmers, each with 1 to 5 hectares, cultivate coffee. These dedicated producers harvest and bring their coffee cherries to the Riakiberu Factory. The newly harvested cherries are subjected to river water, fully washed to de-pulp and the beans are placed on drying beds for eventual export to Nobletree’s roasters. Established in 1958, the Riakiberu Factory is associated with a Farmers Cooperative Society, which, like other cooperatives in Kenya, is dedicated to improving the lives of its 2,000 member growers. The cooperative offers the growers agricultural education and assistance, organizing and preparing for a sustainable future.
When drinking this coffee, it becomes instantly clear what the smallholder farmers’ hard work can bring to the cup: an aroma reminiscent of chocolate, fruit flavors ranging from grapes and red currants to wild berries and plums. You’ll notice crisp, vibrant acidity nicely balanced by a silky, velvety body. This is not your everyday, prosaic cup. Rather it’s a cup you don’t want to forget.
Origin: Kenya
Region: Murang’a
Farm/Co-op: Riakiberu Factory
Varietal(s): SL28, Batian, Riuriu 11
Avg. Altitude: 1600 – 1800 meters
Harvest: November – February
Processing: Washed
Flavor Notes: Red Currant, Wild Berry, Plum
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