this exceptional coffee was won exclusively by us at a recent East Africa coffee auction. what makes this coffee so unique is the processing method. Kenyan coffee is almost exclusively processed using the washed method, so to have a naturally processed Kenyan is both rare & exciting.

tastes like black cherry, strawberry & brown sugar

origin Central Provence, Thika, Kenya

producer Chania Estate – Boyce Harries

elevation 1525m above sea level

varietal french mission

process natural

Boyce Harries is the current caretaker of the estates Chania and Oreti in Central Province; the farms have been in the Harries family for generations. Boyce oversees harvest, processing, and between-season upkeep. the permanent staff of 40 is multigenerational, many having worked and lived alongside up to three generations of the Harries family.

 

the homes Boyce and his family provide for workers have clean water and electricity standard, as well as numerous extra facilities such as a social hall, nursery school, and a homework room. the employees form a self-elected committee which meets monthly to raise and discuss social, welfare, safety, and health matters.

 

the Harries family is extremely active in the local community, donating more than 50 acres of land to the Thika municipal council and cofounding the Wabeni technical institute. the institute seeks to teach underprivileged children practical skills which can help them make a living (e.g. dressmaking, motor mechanics, carpentry).

 

though climate change is shifting the seasons some, main crop is usually October–December, and fly crop from May–July. more than 76cm of rain a year, combined with the deep red volcanic soil and temperatures of 22–28°C, come together to provide the perfect conditions for Boyce’s coffee to express its delicious potential. Boyce, through conversations with Café Imports’ Jason Long, has begun exploring processing beyond the traditions of the Kenyan washed process.

 

this French Mission varietal comes from the award winning team at Chania Estate. those who have had the privilege of tasting a naturally processed Kenyan coffee will probably be familiar with this farm. they have won numerous awards for their coffee and have built an unrivalled reputation in specialty coffee circles with Kenya.

 

this lot has all the quintessential flavours and attributes of a washed Kenyan with the added sweetness, mouthfeel and ripe fruit flavours of a naturally processed coffee.