Kenya - Kiangundo AB / Mixed Varieties / Washed (Green Coffee) 1KG

This washed AB lot comes from Kiangundo, a washing station located in Nyeri County on the foothills of Mount Kenya and operated by the Kiama Farmers' Cooperative Society.

Established in 1968, Kiangundo is the largest of four washing stations operated by Kiama FCS and receives freshly harvested coffee from 839 smallholder farmers in the surrounding area. Most cultivate plots averaging just half a hectare, situated between approximately 1,700 and 1,800 metres above sea level.

The lot is composed predominantly of Kenya's celebrated SL28 and SL34 varieties, alongside smaller quantities of Ruiru 11 and Batian. SL28 and SL34 have long been associated with the exceptional quality of Kenyan coffee, prized for their complex fruit character, vibrant acidity and remarkable sweetness. Ruiru 11 and Batian were developed to offer greater resilience to challenges such as Coffee Berry Disease and Coffee Leaf Rust while maintaining high cup quality.

Quality control begins as soon as the coffee arrives at Kiangundo. All cherries are hand-picked and delivered to the washing station on the same day, where they are meticulously hand-sorted under the supervision of a cherry clerk. Unripe and damaged fruit is removed before the selected cherries are weighed, recorded and sent for processing.

The cherries are then pulped using a four-disc pulper before the coffee is graded by density in water, separating the highest-quality, densest seeds from lighter material. Following pulping, the coffee undergoes the careful fermentation and washing process for which Kenya is renowned, before being dried slowly on raised beds. Throughout drying, the parchment is regularly turned and hand-sorted to encourage even drying and remove any remaining defects.

This particular lot is graded AB, referring to the size of the green coffee rather than being an indication of lesser cup quality. While Kenya's larger AA grade often receives greater attention, exceptional AB lots can be every bit as complex and exciting — and Kiangundo is a great example.

Kiangundo AB is everything we enjoy about great washed Kenyan coffee: bright, transparent and incredibly structured, with crisp fruit and delicate florals balanced by a deep, sugar-like sweetness.

Expect candied orange and yellow nectarine alongside delicate florals and panela-like sweetness. It's juicy and expressive while remaining beautifully clean, an exceptional high-elevation Kenyan coffee with plenty for the roaster to explore.

Expected flavour profile: Candied orange, yellow nectarine, florals and panela.