The Gatomboya factory is managed by the Barichu Farmers Cooperative Society. The washing station processes coffee from around 700 smallholders, each of whom average 0.4 hectare farms. The region, in the shadow of Mount Kenya, has red volcanic loam soil, good rainfall and high elevation, resulting in the distinctive juicy, complex and bright profiles found in the cup.
Gatomboya is the Kikiyu word for ‘swamp’, referring to the surrounding terrain fed by the Kirigu river. This water is utilised in every stage of the wet processing and fermentation of the coffee, with water being recirculated and 6 soak pits enabling wastewater management.
Seasonal buying is about seeing coffee as a crop not a commodity, buying in harmony with the growing seasons to enjoy coffee at its best. This kind of buying has always been the backbone of our business and it’s something we’ve improved and refined every year.
