[FILTER] KENYA GACHATHA AA - WASHED BATIAN, SL28, SL34, RUIRU 11

KENYA, GACHATHA FACTORY, NYERI REGION

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POMEGRANATE, BLACKBERRY, STEWED RHUBARB
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ABOUT THIS COFFEE AND THE GACHATHA FACTORY

Gachatha factory is operated by the Gachatha Farmers Cooperative Society and sits on 391 acres of LAND. It was built in 1963, and its current membership is about 1,050, with roughly 900 active members. The average farmer has about 300 coffee trees, on less than one hectare of land. Farmers here typically grow other crops as well as coffee, as well. The area surrounding Gachatha is densely populated, which requires the factory to take particular precautions with regards to waste  water and pollutants.

WASHED PROCESS

Most of Kenya's coffee is produced by smallholders delivering to factories (central processing units) who predominantly produce Washed coffees. Estates are also best-known for their Washed lots. The Washed process in Kenya may vary slightly from place to place, but it generally contains a soaking step that is unique to this growing country. First the coffee is picked ripe and depulped the same day, then it is normally fermented in open-air tanks made of concrete or cement for 24–48 hours. It's then washed thoroughly using water channels before being soaked underwater for 12–72 hours. It is then spread on raised beds to dry.