When pomegranate meets blood orange, there’s certainly no shortage of freshness. This Kenyan Gathambi AA coffee from the Canadian roaster September Coffee is reminiscent of a fruit cocktail, in which sweetness blends beautifully with a more pronounced acidity. Pomegranate takes center stage with its characteristic sweet-and-sour flavor, complemented by sweet notes of ripe apricots and the citrusy freshness of blood orange. The coffee has a round body and a pleasantly sparkling finish, giving it a lively and juicy character.
Behind this coffee are small-scale farmers from the Kirinyaga region of Kenya, who farm at an elevation of 1,700–1,900 meters above sea level. They deliver their coffee cherries to the Gathambi processing station, which is part of the Mwirua Farmers’ Cooperative Society. The cooperative was founded in 1954 and today brings together thousands of smallholder farmers. In addition to processing and purchasing coffee, it is also dedicated to educating farmers, improving agricultural practices, and protecting natural resources. The goal is not only a higher-quality harvest but also long-term sustainable coffee cultivation. For September Coffee, this marks its very first collaboration with this cooperative.
Gathambi AA is a so-called “field blend,” meaning a mix of the SL28, SL34, Ruiru 11, and Batian varieties, which are grown together by local farmers. While the traditional SL28 and SL34 have been associated with Kenyan coffee since the 1930s, the newer Ruiru 11 and Batian varieties were bred with a focus on disease resistance. The coffee underwent washed processing. After removing the husk and pulp, the beans are sorted by density, followed by a 6–8-hour fermentation. They are then thoroughly washed, soaked in clean water for another 16–18 hours, and finally dried for 8–14 days on raised drying beds.
- Producer: Mwirua Farmers’ Cooperative Society, small-scale local farmers
- Processing station: Gathambi Factory
- Elevation: 1,700–1,900 m above sea level