Kenya - Kirigo

Kirigo Factory operates under the Aguthi Farmers’ Cooperative Society in Nyeri, situated on the ridged hills near the rugged borders of the Aberdare National Park. The region boasts dramatic highland topography with deep volcanic soils enriched by forest debris, crisp mountain air, and heavy morning mists. Kirigo gathers cherries from a small community of middle- to-upper-aged farmers who bring deep experience to the land. This dedicated group executes farming and harvesting protocols with remarkable consistency from one plot to another, guaranteeing reliable, top-tier bean quality year after year.

Coffees from Aguthi develop and mature slowly in this cool highland environment, producing extra-hard, dense beans that carry more flavour and hold up beautifully under roasting. That quality is easy to see in the cup. Kirigo's farmers grow predominantly classic SL28 and SL34 - the timeless backbone of Nyeri’s high-altitude profiles, with only minor traces of newer disease-resistant varieties in the wider cooperative catchment.

Beyond flavour innovation, the mill management and farmers embrace natural processing because it requires far less water, making it a crucial, environmentally friendly step forward for the region.

The community at Kirigo brings extraordinary technical skill to natural processing, having refined ultra-natural extended fermentation protocols for over 8 years. Partner-led training helps farmers coordinate picking schedules toward a managed bi-weekly harvesting interval, ensuring cherries are gathered with robust sugar density before being laid out whole on raised beds. The factory team manages airflow, shade, and drying curves with pinpoint precision under mountain micro-climatic conditions, allowing fruit intensity to build without losing structural clarity or purity.