KENYA | AB KAMUNDU ESTATE | WASHED

Located just outside Nairobi in Kiambu County, Kamundu Estate forms part of Kenya's rich coffee heritage. Originally established during the colonial era, the estate is now Kenyan-owned and continues a coffee-growing tradition that stretches back generations.

Kiambu's fertile volcanic soils, equatorial climate and elevations approaching 2,000 metres provide ideal growing conditions for Arabica coffee. Cool nights slow the maturation of coffee cherries, allowing sugars and flavour compounds to develop gradually, contributing to the bright acidity and complexity for which Kenyan coffees are celebrated.

While many of Kenya's large estates have disappeared due to urban expansion and changing land use, Kamundu remains a shining example of estate-grown Kenyan coffee, combining decades of expertise with a modern commitment to sustainability and community investment.

This coffee is produced using Kenya's traditional fully washed process, a method refined through generations of coffee production.

After harvesting, ripe cherries are carefully sorted and depulped before undergoing fermentation in water tanks for between 12 and 48 hours. This fermentation removes the remaining fruit mucilage from the beans.

Following fermentation, the coffee is washed through grading channels where the densest and highest-quality beans are separated for premium lots. The parchment coffee is then soaked in clean water before being dried slowly on raised African beds for two to three weeks, with careful turning and protection from excessive heat and moisture throughout the drying period.

The result is a clean, vibrant and highly expressive cup that showcases the best characteristics of Kenyan coffee.

Kamundu Estate is one of six estates operated by Sasini, a majority Kenyan-owned company with a long-standing commitment to worker welfare and community development.

Estate workers benefit from housing, early years education, union membership and wages above the statutory minimum. Through partnerships with coffee buyers and customers, Sasini has also invested in local education projects, including the construction of a computer laboratory at Njenga Karume Primary School to improve access to digital learning opportunities.

Rainforest Alliance certification further supports responsible environmental management and sustainable farming practices across the estate.