About This Coffee
Through Fairtrade Africa, the women of Kabngetuny Farmers Cooperative Society (FCS) were involved in a program called Growing Women in Coffee. As in most coffee-growing communities, women typically contribute a large portion of the work but disproportionately own very few coffee farms themselves. The project aimed to give women ownership over their coffee trees. Now, women in Kabngetuny continue to increase their economic and social empowerment by marketing their women-grown coffees.
Harvest & Post-Harvest
Women selectively handpick ripe, red cherry and deliver it to Kabngetuny’s washing station. At intake, cherry is floated and visually inspected to remove any underripe or damaged cherry. Cherry is pulped and fermented. Parchment is washed in clean water and laid to dry on raised beds. Parchment is raked frequently to ensure even drying. It takes approximately 10 to 20 days for parchment to dry.
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.