Origin: Gichugu, Kirinyaga, Kenya

Washing Station: Karimikui Factory

Producer: Rung'eto Farmers Cooperative Society

Process: Washed

Varieties: SL-28, SL-34, Baitan, Ruiru ll

Altitude: 1600-1800 masl

Importer: Apex Coffee Imports

Roast: Medium-Light

Notes: Cherry Cola, Lime, Cranberry, Crème Brûlée

Transparency: 

• We paid Apex Coffee Imports 8.23 USD per pound of exportable green coffee + shipping & storage fees. We purchased 2x30kg boxes of this lot.
  
• Apex's FOB $6.50 USD per pound exportable green coffee.
  

Karimikui AA

We're super excited to have another beautiful Kenyan hit the menu, it's tasting SO good. Karimikui AA comes to us by way of the Rung'eto Farmers Cooperative Society in Kenya. Residing in Kirinyaga's Gichugu district, this coffee comes from the Karimikui Factory, a standout washing station within the cooperative. 

The lots at Karimikui are made up of cherries delivered by hundreds of smallholder farmers from the surrounding villages of Githureia, Gituba, and Kia Mugumo. The coffee is hand-picked, ensuring only ripe red cherries are delivered and meticulously sorted by the factory team. Processing begins with a disc pulping machine that removes the skin and pulp, followed by separation by density.

The selected coffee undergoes a traditional dry fermentation lasting 8 to 12 hours overnight, after which the parchment is thoroughly washed, passed through grading channels, and soaked for an additional 16 to 18 hours in fresh stream water. The parchment is then sun-dried for 8 to 14 days on raised drying beds, with care taken to protect the quality throughout the process.

Made up of mostly classic Kenyan varietals SL-28 and SL-34, the lot also features newer Batian and Ruiru 11 in the mix. This coffee is showing off the best of Kenyan processing, and really demonstrates what good processing practices can do! This coffee is soo good, big Cherry Cola vibes with a big fresh Lime wedge on the glass, tangy Cranberry acidity and sweetness with a rich Crème Brûlée on the finish.

Brewing Recommendations:

Pour-over: 1:16-17 ratio, nothing crazy here, use 15g-250g as your starting point and play around with it!

Espresso: 18g-18.5g in / 37g-39g out / 27-30 seconds. big big brightness and body on this espresso!