Gititu AA

COMMUNITY: Gititu

LOCATION: Kiambu, Kenya

ALTITUDE: 1300 MASL

VARIETY: Batian, Ruiru 11, SL28, SL34

PROCESSES: Washed

Tasting Notes: Cranberry, Grilled Peach, Pie Crust

The factory is located in Kiambu County, in what was formerly Kenya’s Central Province, approximately 47 km northwest of Nairobi. The soils are predominantly red volcanic, with some areas of loam and black cotton soils, providing favorable conditions for coffee cultivation.

Coffee cherries are handpicked at peak ripeness by smallholder farmers and delivered to the factory for processing. The coffee is fully washed, beginning with careful sorting and pulping to remove the outer skin. The parchment is then fermented for 12 to 24 hours, depending on ambient temperature and climate, to break down the mucilage. After fermentation, the coffee is thoroughly washed and transferred to raised drying beds. Drying takes between 7 and 14 days, during which the parchment is regularly turned to ensure even drying and to prevent defects.

The main harvest season runs from October through February, with a smaller secondary “fly crop” occurring between April and May. The region experiences two rainy seasons: the long rains from April to June, which support the main crop, and the short rains from October to November, which support the fly crop.

Most farms are small, typically ranging from 1 to 2 hectares. Farming activities are mainly managed by adults, while children attend school during the day. However, the cost of education remains a challenge for many families, limiting access to schooling and future opportunities in this economically constrained region. As a result, many young people have migrated to urban areas in search of employment, often leaving their parents behind or relocating with them and abandoning farming.

Although this trend has persisted for years, recent increases in coffee prices are encouraging some younger members of the community to remain in rural areas and continue coffee cultivation. Coffee farming plays a vital role in improving livelihoods in the region, contributing to infrastructure development, education, access to water and electricity, and employment. It remains the primary cash crop, alongside subsistence agriculture and dairy farming.