Quite literally the big brother of one of our favourites from last year. On top of everything that benefited that AB lot before - the uniquely rich volcanic soil and high altitude of the farms - this AA-graded lot reaps the benefits of continued investment in the farmers and their farms.
The cooperative running the excellent Gakuyuini factory, a farmer’s society called Thirikwa, understands that raising standards (and by extension, output quality and quantity) doesn’t come for free and is the result of education and fair renumeration of the farmer. It offers agriculture workshops to its members, and in the spirit of eco- and community consciousness the wastewater generated by the washing process is routed back to the farms to be used as fertiliser free of charge.
The result in the cup is a coffee with distinctively Kenyan character. Intense florals and zinging acidity are in great balance with spiced and herbaceous undertones. We’re pushing this coffee on the lighter side, so we would advise brewing with very hot water. As espresso, expect the fruitiness and herbal notes to really come through, with great mouthfeel and benign acidity. As a filtered brew, the cup really opens up: we can pick up on the individual fruits more clearly and the acidity has a great bite to it, especially as the drink cools down a touch.
