Kenya

Kainamui

This coffee originates from the Kirinyaga region, one of Kenya’s best areas for growing and producing a specialty product. Kainamui’s classic blend of varietals give it a distinct profile, with notes of citrus rind, blood orange and cola.

Body     Acidity

Just another testpiece of what Kenyan coffees have to offer. Plenty of acidity, complexity and deep citrusy flavours.

The Kainamui Coffee Factory is situated in the Ngariama region, in the Gichugu division of the Kirinyaga County. Established in 1963 near Mount Kenya, this cooperative has about 2000 smallholders, each owning and harvesting an average of only 200 coffee trees.

Recently, the Kainamui organisation (which is affiliated with New Ngariama FCS) has partnered with Coffee Management Services (CMS) to implement several processing systems, education protocols and incentives such as pre-financing loans. The goal is to offer higher economic stability for farmers alongside the tools to reach better harvest quality and, therefore, more profitable market dividends.

A word-based mural painted at the entry of the Kainamui Coffee Factory

Despite these efforts, the production volume has only dwindled almost every year. The reason? Amongst many others, less and less young population is interested in working with coffee. According to Trabocca, a European coffee importer that works a lot in Kenya, “most farmers within Kiringyaga and the surrounding counties age 50+ or even 60+ and have no successors. This is because most youths who grow up within coffee-growing families move on to more profitable markets, like taxi driving.”

However, the quality is on the rise, and this coffee is an outstanding example of the potential of Kenyan coffee and particularly in Kirinyaga. The volcanic soil here is rich in minerals, which, combined with the high altitude (1,650 masl), voluminous rainfall (1800mm/year) and mild temperatures (16-26°C), create perfect conditions for growing cherries packed with deep flavours.

This lot is a traditional washed process that features the familiar Kenyan varieties SL 28, Batian and Ruiru 11.

First, the coffee is handpicked and delivered to the wet mill for pulping. Here, by the method of flotation, the immature mbuni’s (floaters) are separated from the dense, ripe cherries, which sink to the bottom of the container and are later sent to the fermentation tank.

Then, the cherries are left to ferment in water for about 24 hours, washed, and once again fermented again for 12-24 hours.

Later, the beans enter the washing channels where floaters are separated again and the mucilage is removed from the good beans. These enter the soaking tanks, sitting under clean water for another 24 hours, allowing amino acids and proteins in the cellular structure of each bean to develop, resulting in more acidity and complex fruit flavour—a quality that distinctively identifies Kenyan coffee.

Finally, the beans are laid on the initial drying tables, forming a thin layer and achieving a moisture level of ~50%; this first drying stage can last 6 hours. Afterwards, the beans are gathered and laid in thicker layers for 5-10 additional days, then bagged and left in dry storage until hitting the port.

Fermenting facilities at the Kainamui Coffee Factory

Fermenting facilities at the Kainamui Coffee Factory

Summing up: a super nice Kenyan that shows everything about the status of coffee over there. Deep flavours and clean profile, which we must help preserve by paying higher prices so farmers keep their interest in growing this good while securing a fair living.


All images and information about this coffee and producers have been kindly shared by its importer, Condesa CoLab, and edited by us, Sample Coffee (unless linked to or credited otherwise).



Our new recommended brewing window for peak flavour is within days ~10-50 post-roast date.

We’ve recently changed into a Loring Kestrel S35 coffee roaster, which uses a different roasting technology from our previous one. Aside from reaching more nuanced and transparent flavours, we’ve noticed a change in our beans’ aging behaviour. Brewing between days ~10-50 post-roast seems to bring out the best of each coffee, but it may taste fine if you do it earlier or even a few days later. Test, try and adjust to find what works for you!

PS. Please note our packaging still shows our old recommendation. This will change in our next printed batch!



Need any brewing tips?

Head to our brew guides and find your favourite filter method—or head straight to our single origin espresso recipe. If you have further questions, send us an email. We’re always keen to help.

 

Sourcing and ingredients

100% SL28, Batian, and Ruiru 11 coffee beans, provided by Condesa Co.Lab and roasted by us on Gadigal land / Sydney.

Country grade: Unknown ?

Packaging

Bag: ABA Certified home compostable
Label: Recyclable
Valve (on bags larger than 250g): General waste
Coffee ordered online is shipped in a recyclable cardboard box

Brewing this coffee

We recommend brewing this coffee 15–49 days post-roast. If pre-ground, brew as soon as possible. Our advice on storing coffee.

1:3
dose:yield
ratio

To brew on espresso, we recommend using 20g of beans (dose) to get 60g of espresso out (yield), during 24-28 seconds.

g dose
g yield
View the how to brew espresso (single origin) guide.

1:16.7
beans:water
ratio

To brew in infusion/fed brewers (V60, Chemex) use a ratio of 1:16.7 ratio of beans:water.

g beans
g water
View full recipes and videos in our brewguides

1:14.3
beans:water
ratio

To brew in immersion brewers (plunger, AeroPress, Kalita, batch brewer) we recommend using a 1:14.3 ratio of beans:water

g beans
g water
View full recipes and videos in our brewguides

1:12
beans:water
ratio

To brew as cold brew we recommend using a 1:12 ratio of beans:water

g beans
g water
View full recipes and videos in our brewguides

Producer

~2000 Cooperative Members

Country

Kenya

Region

Gichugu

Altitude

1,650m above sea level

Varietals

SL28, Batian, and Ruiru 11

Process

Washed

Body

Acidity

Tasting notes

Citrus rind, blood orange, cola

Roast style

Omni

Varietals

Batian varietal

Batian is the latest variety to be developed in Kenya, it is named after the peak of Mount Kenya

Ruiru 11 varietal

Released in 1985, Ruiru 11 is a disease resistant varietal developed in Kenya

SL28 varietal

SL28 was developed in 1931 by Scott Laboratories to suit the growing conditions in Kenya. The varietal is known for its exceptional cup quality

The location

Coffee from Kenya

Alongside Ethiopia and Colombia, Kenya is one of the origins we get most excited about at the roastery. It exports some of the most vibrant, bright, and unique coffees in the world.


The Kirinyaga region of Kenya

This region is located east of Nyeri, and has similarly rich volcanic soils and a high percentage of smallholder producers.

Farm processes

Washed process

Machines are used to remove the flesh from the coffee cherry before being fermented in water, washed again, and finally sun dried. This process tends to result in more distinct, cleaner flavours.


Coffee delivery: coffee in resealable bag and farm information card

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