Kii Washing Station - Smallholder Farmers - Washed Kenya - Kenya

Whole Bean
Roast: Light
Recommended Rest: 4-6 weeks from roast date
Tasting Notes: grapefruit, sprite, mint

Origin Details

Region: Kirinyaga County, Kenya
Elevation: 1600-1800masl
Producer: Smallholder Farmers, Kii Washing Station
Process: Washed
Variety: SL28, SL34, Ruiru 11

ABOUT THIS COFFEE AND PRODUCER

The Kii factory is located in Ngairiama in the Gichugu division of Kirinyaga district in Central Province. It is one of 3 factories, along with Kiangoi and Karimikui, which make up the Rungeto Farmers Coop Society. This coop was established in 1953 and now has around 3507 members. Each smallholder member has around a hectare of land for growing coffee alongside vegetables for the family. The area has rich and fertile red volcanic soil at altitudes of 1700 to 1900 metres above sea level and receives between 1600 and 1900mm of rainfall annually.

The coffee is handpicked by the smallholder members and delivered to the Kii factory where it is pulped. This first stage of fermentation will last for around 24 hours, after which the beans are washed and sent to the secondary fermentation tank for another 12-24 hours. Once the fermentation process is completed, the beans enter the washing channels where floaters are separated further and the dense beans are cleaned of mucilage. The washed beans will then enter soaking tanks where they can sit under clean water for as long as another 24 hours. The beans are then transferred to the initial drying tables where they are laid in a thin layer to allow around 50% of the moisture to be quickly removed. This first stage of drying can last around 6 hours before the beans are gathered and laid in thicker layers for the remaining 5-10 days of the drying period.

WHY WE SELECTED THIS COFFEE

We're excited to introduce our first coffee from Kii Washing Station, one of Kenya's most respected washing stations and a source of many outstanding coffees over the past several years.

This is the kind of coffee we look forward to drinking all summer. Bright and sparkling from the first sip, it opens with an incredible grapefruit richness that gives the cup both intensity and sweetness. Effervescent citrus notes follow, adding a lively quality that reminds us of Sprite, balancing vibrant acidity with a clean, sugar-like sweetness.

As the coffee cools, subtle herbal florals begin to emerge. A gentle note of fresh mint lingers in the finish, adding another layer of refreshment and making the cup feel even more crisp and expressive.

For those who are curious about Kenyan coffees but aren't sure where to start, this is an easy one to recommend. It showcases the brightness and complexity that have made Kenyan coffees so beloved, while remaining approachable, refreshing, and endlessly drinkable.