Kenya Kiambu Karatu AB

Description

Karatu Coffee Factory is located in Central Province, Thika District in Ndarugu location of Gatundu Division near Gatundu town. It was established in 1965 and rests on 11 acres of land, serving Karatu, Gitwe, Kibiru and Kigaa Villages. In addition to coffee growing, common crops grown are banana and maize. Grevillea or macadamia trees are also planted to provide shade to the growing coffee trees. In line with the rising awareness on the need to conserve the environment, the factory has dug the waste water pits away from the water source, where the waste water is allowed to soak back into the soil. Currently the factory does not engage in waste water treatment. Additionally the society encourages its members to plant trees on their farms. After coffee cherry is harvested, it is brought to the factory and then weighed. Smallholder farmers collect their earnings at that time. Coffee cherry is then sent through a disk depulper removing most of the fruit, and is fermented for 24-hours and then washed once more, bringing the entire process to 72-hours. The time in which parchment coffee dries depends heavily on the climate, ambient temperature, and volume being processed-which could take up to 15 days, and as little as one week. This SL28 has big sweetness, a big body, with big aromatic notes of citrus and blackberries. The bold acidity contrasts a molasses-like caramelization, and what you get is one of our favorite Kenyan coffees we've had in years.