Ushirika - Washed

WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL | Too often, coffee from Kenya is reduced to a singular profile: high acidity, currant, molasses-like sweetness, and the occasional tomato. While those classic flavors are still out there, we’ve found a tremendous range in the Kenyan coffees we’ve sourced over the past two years, and Ushirika may be the most intriguing variation yet. While we usually find subverted flavor profiles coming from new innovations in processing or novel varieties, this coffee’s intrigue comes from the fact that it tastes a whole lot like a washed coffee from Colombia! The profile boasts lower acidity than the typical Kenyan cup, while simultaneously highlighting sweetness. It’s a crushable cup that’s easy and approachable for every type of coffee drinker, the perfect complement to a cozy Fall morning. 

TRUST THE PROCESS | This coffee undergoes the washed process typical of Kenyan coffee production. Pulped and placed into a basin, the coffee ferments underwater for approximately 24 hours before being rinsed. The coffee then ferments dry for 24 hours before an additional 24 hour submersion. The coffee is rinsed once more, then dried until optimal moisture content is achieved.

TAKE A SIP | Approachable, sweet, and easy to drink, this coffee reminds us more of traditional Colombian coffees than conventional Kenyan cups. Sweetness prevails in the cup, with notes of date and milk chocolate at the forefront of each sip. Acidity is surprisingly low for a Kenyan offering, reminding us of orange zest. The fruit character is cooked and cozy, reminding us of baked apples sprinkled with cinnamon.

Origin | Nyeri, Kenya

Producer | Othaya Farmers Cooperative

Farm | Various

Process | Washed 

Variety | SL28, SL34, Batian, Ruiru 11

Elevation | 1600–1900 MASL

Sourced from the Nyeri region of Kenya, the Ushirika - Washed lot is produced by the Othaya Farmers Cooperative. This coffee is processed using the washed method, a technique typically employed to highlight the inherent acidity and clean, vibrant profile of the bean. Roasted by Black & White Coffee Roasters, this selection presents a nuanced cup characterized by notes of date, milk chocolate, orange zest, baked apples, and cinnamon.

While washed coffees are generally celebrated for their clarity and bright, crisp acidity, the specific terroir of Nyeri often contributes to a complex, layered experience. To better understand how these specific descriptors align with broader sensory categories, you can consult the flavor wheel. This lot, grown between 1600 and 1900 masl, serves as a refined example of the cooperative’s commitment to traditional processing standards in one of the world’s most prestigious coffee-growing landscapes.