Kenya Kirinyaga Kiangoi AA

Kiangoi is a "factory," a coffee mill in Kenya terminology, from the Kirinyaga growing district. It operates under a cooperative umbrella, one of a few processing stations of the Rung'eto Farmers Cooperative Society. In a coop, each member is tending to only 200-500 trees on less than a hectare, as opposed to a huge estate that uses agribusiness growing methods. I think it shows in the cup too. Kiangoi farmers grow primarily SL-28, SL-34, and Ruiru 11 cultivars, benefitting from the red volcanic soils of Mt Kenya, and most stretch above 1800 meters above sea level. These factories are basically small washing stations set up in a particular area and are allied with a larger "Farmers Cooperative Society" - or "FCS". Factories have wet mills, washing/fermenting channels, and raised beds where the coffees are basically processed all the way down to dried parchment (being meticulously sorted along the way). Unfortunately, I haven't been able to visit Kiangoi, and it's been several years since we've been lucky enough to carry their coffee.