Kiunyu Coffee Factory, established in the 1960s, is one of two washing stations within the Karithathi Farmer Cooperative Society in Kirinyaga County. Situated at 1,644 meters, it serves farmers from Kianduma, Kiambuku, and Gature villages. The region experiences moderate bimodal rainfall, with temperatures ranging from 13°C to 24°C year-round. The main coffee varieties grown are SL34 and Ruiru 11, with SL34 accounting for 99% of production. The red volcanic soil—deep, fertile, and well-drained—is ideal for coffee cultivation. Kiunyu employs fully washed (wet) processing, using water from the Karithathi river. After pulping, coffee undergoes fermentation, cleaning, soaking, and drying on raised beds. The factory emphasizes sustainability by managing waste water through soak pits away from water sources and encouraging tree planting among its members.
Country of Origin
Kenya
Region
Kirinyaga
Producer Type
Washing Station
Farm Name
Various smallholders
Co-Op
Karithathi Farmer Cooperative Society
Processing
Washed
Processing Description
Overnight fermentation, dried on raised beds
Growing Altitude
1650m
Harvest Season
2023/24
Bag Weight
30 KG BAG
Bag Type
Grain Pro / Ecotact
Plant Species
Arabica
Variety
Batian, Ruiru 11, SL34
Soil
Red volcanic
History of Coffee in Kenya
It seems likely that coffee grew wild within the region that would become Kenya, buried deep inside impenetrable forests, or perhaps hiding in plain site; but it wasn’t until 1895 that missionaries both protestant and catholic attempted to grow coffee for commercial purposes. The 100 seeds from Reunion Island that would serve as progenitors to the Kenyan coffee industry arrived on a train, carried by priests belonging to an order known as “Holy Ghost Fathers.” On August 12th, 1899, they arrived at the spot that would quickly become the country’s capital city. One of the early protestant medical missionaries was Dr. Henry Scott. After his death in 1911, a new hospital complex was named after Dr. Scott and when the department of agriculture took over the complex in 1923 they kept the name: Scott Agricultural Laboratories, or “Scott Labs.” This is the origin of the “SL” in SL28 and other coffee varieties selected at the lab.
Growing Coffee in Kenya
Coffee is grown through the highland regions of Kenya, including Kisii, Nyanza, and Bungoma in the west; Nakuru and Kericho in the Great Rift Valley; Machakos, Embu, and Meru to the east of Mt. Kenya; and the Taita hills near the coast. The largest and oldest coffee growing areas are the central highlands, particularly Nyeri, sandwiched between the foothills of Mt Kenya to the east and the Aberdare mountain range to the west. Most coffee in Kenya is grown between 4,500 and 6,500 feet. Nearly all of Kenya’s 700,000 coffee producers are small land holders belonging to cooperatives. Most common varieties in Kenya are Ruiru 11, SL28, SL34, and K7. SL34 and K7 were developed from heirloom bourbon known as “French Mission,” which was the primary variety grown prior to the 1930’s that can still be found today, as can Blue Mountain on some farms. Kenyan coffees are graded by screen size and while there are several grades, specialty coffee is AA, AB, or PB (peaberry), used in combination with quality grade FAQ or FAQ Plus (Fair Average Quality).
RegionKirinyaga
Farm NameVarious smallholders
Producer TypeWashing Station
ProcessingWashed
Processing DescriptionOvernight fermentation, dried on raised beds
