Kenya Tinganga Estate

    This washed process coffee comes from Tinganga Estate in Kenya’s Kiambu county. Tinganga is a 450 acre coffee farm first established by British colonists but is now one of 6 estates owned and operated by Sasini, a publicly listed company with a majority Kenyan ownership.  The bulk of coffee production in Africa is small holder, aggregate coffee. Estate coffees like this are often a rare gem. Estates have the advantage of being able to control both growing and processing, often having dedicated agronomists and nurseries providing healthier and happier trees.
   Sasini’s estates have long placed an emphasis on equity and community. In the case of the estates’ workers this involves the provision of living quarters, early child education, union membership and guaranteed payment above minimum wage. They have also been able to invest further in the local primary school Njenga Karume. This has principally been through the building of a new computer lab to equip students with the IT skillset to maximize their opportunities in an increasingly digital world.
   We chose to roast this coffee to a medium roast level to smooth out the acidity and highlight the sweetness, as Kenyan coffees tend to be nice and bright.  The result is a delicious but balanced cup profile with notes of citrus and black berries along with a deep brown sugar sweetness.