The Kangurumai Washing Station, located on the slopes of the Aberdare Range in Murang’a County, Kenya, is an integral part of the Kangiri Farmers’ Cooperative Society, which also oversees several nearby factories. Situated at an elevation of around 1,630 meters, Kangurumai sources cherries from numerous smallholder farmers, each managing a few hectares. This lot features Kenya’s iconic cultivars, SL28 and SL34, developed by Scott Agricultural Laboratories in the 1930s and renowned for their vibrant acidity and complex fruit character.
During the harvest, farmers deliver only ripe cherries to Kangurumai, where they undergo meticulous hand-sorting and floating to remove defects before being depulped the same day. The parchment then experiences a traditional washed process, including overnight fermentation, washing, and density separation. Drying takes place on raised African beds for 9 to 15 days, ensuring even moisture reduction and long-term stability. The AB grade lot, with screen sizes 15–16, delivers a bright, juicy acidity with notes of blackberry, cranberry, hibiscus, and citrus, complemented by a clean, honeyed sweetness.
Kangurumai and its member farmers continue to uphold Murang’a’s rich coffee culture, where cooperative structures have enabled smallholders to access specialty markets. This collaboration preserves Kenya’s reputation for producing some of the world’s most distinctive coffees, maintaining the legacy and quality that Murang’a is celebrated for globally.
