Kenya Premium Nyeri – Othaya Kiaga – Peaberry

Burman Coffee Traders

Details

Origin

Kenya

Process

Washed

Roast Suitability

Description

New Crop! This was one of my favorite destinations on my recent Kenya trip. The Othaya FCS (farmer co-op society) was second to none. One of the few farmer co-ops that owned and operated their own dry mill. Most of the dry mills were owned by large foreign agriculture companies. Way cool to see 100% locally owned and operated Kenyan coffee competing with the crazy large foreign agricultural companies. A real feel good operation. This is a washed, peaberry top lot from Kiaga washing station in the Nyeri highlands. Kiaga wetmill is part of Othaya Farmers’ Co-operative Society Limited, one of a few washing stations or “factories” that form the co-op group based in the heartland of Kukuyu territory, Nyeri. The mill processes an average of 270,000kg of coffee cherries per year sourced from over 700 farmers. Kiaga Factory is located between the rivers of Rutene and Ruarai east of the Aberdare Ranges. Nyeri County has cool temperatures and fertile central highlands, lying between the Eastern base of the Aberdare (Nyandarua) Range, which forms part of the Eastern end of the Great Rift Valley, and the Western slopes of Mt. Kenya. Tasting Notes: A lovely example of Kenya coffee. Good from light to dark, we recommend a nice medium roast to showcase it. Very bright, punchy and complex at lighter roasts, a bit front loaded with citric/floral but very clean with some balance. A bit hoppy some will say with some spice notes popping out. The lighter tones will pull some balance with a semi-sweet chocolate edge but easily overpowered by the higher acidity when light roasted. Medium roasts build much better balance between the acidity (citric/floral/fruit) and the dark tones (nutty/cocoa/spice) making it less blasty of a cup, easier to drink all day. If you don’t like higher acidity, this is where to start with your roasts. Darker roasts have there place, but will kill some of what separates this cup from “average” Kenyan. Strong and semi-sweet, think bakers chocolate with herbal acc