our second time buying coffees produced by the Harries family, this time a washed Kenyan from oreti estate. this is a beautifully smooth & round coffee with flavours of raspberry, brown sugar & lime, and a lasting, sweet aftertaste.
SUGGESTED RECIPE
ratio: 1:16.7 | time: 2.30-3mins | temp: 94-96°C
FINER DETAILS:
origin: kiambu, thika, kenya
produced by: oreti estate – boyce harries
processing method: washed
varietal: sl-34, sl-28
elevation: 1525m above sea level
roasted for: filter
oreti (maori): “a place of danger and raw beauty”
oreti estate, situated on Thika Plateau, is one of two owned by the Harries family. while the Harries family has been in Kenya since 1904, it wasn’t until 1946 that Peter Allen Harries and his wife, Rowena (a New Zealander), bought the 36-hectare lot, 5 miles above chania estate and named it oreti.
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 their staff 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 formed a self-elected committee which meets monthly to raise and discuss social, welfare, safety, and health matters.
though climate change is shifting the seasons, 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.
last year we were lucky enough to get hold of a French Mission varietal 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.
the Harries family is also extremely active in the local community, donating more than 50 acres of land to the Thika Municipal Council and co-founding 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).
