Barichu Gatomboya AB is a Kenyan coffee from Candycane Coffee, sourced from the processing station of the same name in the renowned Nyeri region. In the cup, it offers a lively and complex profile with notes of red currant, rosehip, and elderflower, complemented by a pleasant jam-like sweetness, subtle herbal nuances, and a caramel finish. A pronounced yet elegant acidity lends the coffee a juicy character and a long finish, typical of the finest Kenyan coffees.
The coffee is supplied by approximately 700 smallholder farmers united in the Barichu Cooperative, who transport their cherries to the Gatomboya processing station in the heart of the Nyeri region. The coffee trees grow here at an elevation of about 1, 770 meters above sea level on fertile volcanic soils, which, together with the cooler climate, create ideal conditions for producing complex and distinctly fruity coffees. A blend of classic Kenyan varieties— SL-34, SL-28, Ruiru 11, and Batian—is grown here, complemented by the rarer Geisha variety.
The coffee undergoes a washed processing method that highlights its purity, freshness, and complexity. After harvest, the cherries are first carefully sorted to remove unripe or defective ones, then pulped and fermented to release any remaining pulp. This is followed by a thorough washing, during which the beans are simultaneously sorted by density and briefly submerged in clean water—a process typical of the best Kenyan processing stations. Drying then takes place slowly on raised African beds, where the beans are turned regularly, resulting in a cup with exceptional flavor clarity and excellent balance.