La Cabra Kiamugumo (Kenya)
From the roaster...
The Kiamugumo washing station, or factory as they are often known in Kenya, lies at 1550 metres above sea level on the southern slopes of Mount Kenya, in Kirinyaga county. It is owned by the 1500 members of the New Ngariama Farmers Cooperative Society, each of which are able to contribute their cherry to lots from Kiamugumo. Ngariama own three factories: Kiamugumo, which we purchased from last year, Kamwangi and Kainamui, from which we purchased a lot in 2018. The cooperative doesn’t just collect and process coffee for its member farmers, it also provides them with financial support for expenses such as school fees and farm investment. This lot, mainly made up of SL28 and SL34, is of the AA screen size and has been processed using a variation on the washed process popular in Kenya, which involves a second soaking of the coffee after the initial fermentation. This further cleans up the cup, and adds to the intensity of acidity we value in Kenyan coffees. Look for bright currant notes, and a juicy body, in this classic representation of the Kirinyaga region, known for slightly lighter-bodied and crisper cups.