Kenya - Karinga Farmers / Washed SL28 & Ruiu11

High in Kenya’s Kiambu County, the Karinga Factory sits at 1,840 meters, where rich red volcanic soils and cool weather make for slow-maturing, flavorful coffee. Here, about 500 smallholder farmers—most with less than a hectare of land—deliver their handpicked cherries to be fully washed using water from the Rwabura River, then dried on raised beds.

Founded in 1983, the factory is part of the Gitwe Farmers’ Cooperative Society, which supports producers with training, financing, and sustainability initiatives. With two harvests a year and a tradition rooted in both tea and coffee, Karinga’s coffees showcase the bright, complex character that makes Kenya so celebrated worldwide.