Kamundu Estate

Region: Kiambu, Kenya Elevation: 1800masl Process: Natural Tasting Notes: Marmalade, Blueberry, Juicy Kiambu County is located just outside Nairobi City. The region has a long history of coffee production and is famous for its large estates, which were originally established by British colonists in the early 20th century. After decolonization, the estates were sold to local Kenyans who have been managing them since. While estates such as this used to produce the majority of Kenyan coffee, the increased urban sprawl from Nairobi, as well as the increasing land value in the region has meant that estate coffee production has gradually diminished, while smallholder production elsewhere has increased. Nevertheless, estates such as these continue a legacy of many generations of coffee production, supported by unparalleled local knowledge and experience. Kiambu has all the ingredients for arabica coffee to flourish: it is close to the equator, has iron-rich, semi-volcanic soils, abundant sunshine and consistently high altitudes up to 2,000masl. The cool nighttime temperatures in these fertile highlands allow cherries to mature slowly, developing the acidity and complexity in the final cup.