Kianjogu washing station sits at 1,800 metres above sea level in Nyeri, between Mount Kenya and the Aberdare ranges. Owned by the farmers who deliver their cherries here, it belongs to the Rutuma cooperative and brings together around 1,300 small-scale growers.

Coffee is the main source of income on these small farms, where families also grow maize, beans, potatoes and vegetables for their own consumption. SL28 and SL34 are among the varieties cultivated here, connecting this coffee to Kenya’s longstanding coffee-growing tradition.

Processing starts on the day of picking. Ripe cherries arrive at the station and are pulped before undergoing 24 hours of dry fermentation. The coffee is then washed, soaked again in clean water and slowly dried under shade. This careful approach encourages even drying and helps protect the parchment from cracking.

Behind each lot is a wider community. The station provides permanent employment and takes on additional workers from the surrounding area during peak harvest, when picked cherries arrive for processing. From the farms to the drying stage, Kianjogu’s story is rooted in shared ownership and careful work.

This coffee was sourced through our i…