About This Coffee
Kaganda Factory is run by IKaganda Farmers Cooperative Society (FCS). Kaganda FCS operates in the Murang'a region of Central Kenya. 1,050 farmers cultivate SL28. SL34, Ruiru 11 and Batian on small farms that are, on average, less than 1 hectare. The cooperative provides essential services such as farm inputs, training programs, and marketing assistance, ensuring that Kaganda FCS AA coffee upholds its high standards of quality and consistency.
Murang'a is situated in Central Kenya, an area renowned for its favorable coffee-growing conditions. The region benefits from fertile volcanic soil, high altitudes and a temperate climate with moderate rainfall, all of which contribute to the production of high-quality coffee with distinct flavors and bright acidity. Murang'a, like neighboring Nyeri, is recognized for producing some of Kenya's most sought-after coffees.
Cultivation
Farmers delivering to Kaganda washing station cultivate primarily SL28, SL34, Ruiru 11 and Batian in small coffee gardens that are, on average, smaller than 1 hectare. ‘SL’ varieties are cultivars originally released by Scott Agricultural Laboratories (SAL) in the 1930s and 1940s. They soon became the go-to trees for many growers in Kenya due to their deep root structure, which allows them to maximize scarce water resources and flourish even without irrigation. They are cultivated with a serious eye towards sustainability and Good Agricultural Practices, with minimal environmental impact where possible.
Batian is a relatively new variety introduced by the Kenya Coffee Research Institute (CRI) in 2010. Batian is named after the highest peak on Mt. Kenya and is resistant to both CBD and CLR. The variety has the added benefit of early maturity – cropping after only two years. Similar to Batian, Ruiru 11 is a new variety known for its disease resistance and high yields. It also starts yielding fruit after just 2 years.
Harvest & Post-Harvest
Farmers handpick only ripe, red cherries, ensuring that the best quality fruit is delivered to Kaganda Factory. Upon delivery, the cherries are pulped and then fermented for 12 to 16 hours. After fermentation, the beans are soaked for an additional 12 to 24 hours to enhance their acidity and body. The coffee is then dried on raised beds for 7 to 14 days, with frequent raking to ensure even drying and optimal moisture content.
AA Grade
Kenyan coffees are classified by size. AA beans are the largest size. AA grade coffees are those that are 17/18 screen size, meaning that they are larger than 7.2 millimeters.
Coffee in Kenya
Though coffee growing had a relatively late start in Kenya, the industry has gained and maintained a impressive reputation. Since the start of production, Kenyan coffee has been recognized for its high-quality, meticulous preparation and exquisite flavors. Our in-country sister company, Sucafina Kenya, works with farmers across the country to ensure these exceptional coffees gain the accolades they deserve.
Today, more than 600,000 smallholders farming fewer than 5 acres compose 99% of the coffee farming population of Kenya. Their farms cover more than 75% of total coffee growing land and produce nearly 70% of the country’s coffee. These farmers are organized into hundreds of Farmer Cooperative Societies (FCS), all of which operate at least one factory. The remainder of annual production is grown and processed by small, medium and large land estates. Most of the larger estates have their own washing stations.
Most Kenyan coffees are fully washed and dried on raised beds. The country still upholds its reputation for high quality and attention to detail at its many washing stations. The best factories employ stringent sorting practices at cherry intake, and many of them have had the same management staff in place for years.