Karinga Factory
SL34, SL28, Ruiru 11, Batian - Washed - Karinga AB
On sale checked 29 Sep 2026
Price
Listed: $19.00 / 134g → $14.18 per 100g
Where it's from
- Washing station Karinga Factory
- Co-op Karinga F.C.S
- Country Kenya
- Region Kiambu
Description
Tastes Like: Blackberry, Syrah, Lavender
Origin: Karinga, Kiambu, Kenya
Variety: SL-34, SL-28, Ruiru-11, Batian
Producer: Karinga F.C.S
Elevation: 1,840 masl
Process: Washed
About the Farm and the Coffee
Gitwe Farmers Cooperative Society operates the Karinga Factory, which was founded in 1983. There are about 650 contributing members who deliver cherry to the factory, each growing coffee alongside other crops on about 1 hectare each, average. The farmers bring their cherry to the factory for sorting and processing as soon as it is picked: The coffee is depulped, then fermented for 12–24 hours before being washed four times and spread on raised beds for 8–13 days.
The factory has partnered with Coffee Management Services (CMS) in an attempt to increase production, but growth has been somewhat slow because of the local emphasis on growing tea in place of coffee.The cooperative has a field committee that assists members by providing various services, including sourcing seeds and seedlings from the Coffee Research Center to guidance about fertilizer and performing farm visits to offer assistance.
Variety
Batian is a Kenyan selection released in 2010, developed for resistance to coffee leaf rust and coffee berry disease. It brings together several breeding lines, illustrating how disease resilience and specialty-coffee production can be pursued together.
SL28 was selected in Kenya in the 1930s and has since spread to other coffee-growing countries. It combines drought tolerance with high cup-quality potential; growing conditions and post-harvest work shape the expression of each lot.
SL34 was selected in Kenya at Scott Agricultural Laboratories. Genetic research places it in the Typica-related group, and it is valued for its quality potential at altitude. Its character varies with the farm and processing method.
Ruiru 11 is a compact Kenyan hybrid developed to combine productive growth with resistance to coffee leaf rust and coffee berry disease. Its breeding also drew on varieties selected for cup quality.
Processing
In washed processing, the fruit pulp and remaining mucilage are removed before the coffee is dried. This approach often emphasizes a defined structure and separation of flavors, while fermentation and drying choices still influence the result.
Text from Hydrangea Coffee Roasters' listing.