GAKUNDU, KENYA

 

 

TASTING NOTES
MILK CHOCOLATE, NUTMEG, CARDAMOM, QUINCE

ORIGIN
KENYA

REGION
EMBU COUNTY, CENTRAL KENYA

VARIETY
SL-28, RUIRU 11, BATIAN

ALTITUDE
1,650 METERS

PROCESS METHOD
WASHED

ABOUT
At the foothills of Mount Kenya lies the Gakundu Coffee Factory, a cornerstone of Embu County’s thriving coffee community. Here, smallholder farmers—members of the Gakundu Farmers’ Cooperative Society—grow classic Kenyan varieties SL-28, Ruiru 11, and Batian at altitudes reaching 1,650 meters, in deep red volcanic soils and cool mountain air. These conditions, combined with meticulous handpicking and washing, produce coffees of extraordinary clarity and complexity.

During harvest, only fully ripe cherries are selected, pulped the same day, and fermented under careful control. After washing, the coffee is sun-dried on raised beds to a stable 10.5% moisture, ensuring longevity and consistency. This dedication to process yields a cup that embodies Kenya’s reputation for precision and depth—layered, clean, and vibrant.

Gakundu is more than a factory; it’s a cooperative built on sustainability and empowerment. Through its partnership with Coffee Management Services (CMS), members receive training in good agricultural practices, pre-financing for education and farm needs, and support in sustainable water use and reforestation. Intercropping with bananas and macadamia trees provides shade and biodiversity, helping preserve the land for future generations.

The result is a coffee that balances richness and nuance—smooth milk chocolate at its base, lifted by fragrant nutmeg and cardamom spice, and a bright, lingering note of quince. The November Passport edition from Gakundu is a celebration of craft, community, and the timeless precision of Kenyan coffee.