Gondo AB

Kenya is back in the building, and Gondo came ready to make some noise. Grown along the Aberdare slopes of Mathioya in West Murang’a, this coffee brings together SL28, SL34, Ruiru 11, K7, and Batian cultivated at 1,900 meters by members of the New Kiriti Farmers’ Cooperative Society.

A traditional Kenyan double washed process brings serious clarity to an absolutely loaded cup. Ripe blackberry and black currant set the bassline, red grapefruit and pineapple light up the top end, and floral aromatics drift through a syrupy finish of sweet vanilla. Complex, vibrant, and constantly moving as it cools. This is the kind of coffee that reminds us why the arrival of fresh Kenyan lots feels like its own season every year.

Sourced from the Mathioya region of West Murang’a, Gondo AB represents the meticulous output of the New Kiriti Farmers’ Cooperative Society. This Kenyan selection is prepared using the washed process, a method typically employed to highlight the inherent acidity and clean, vibrant profiles often associated with the region's high-elevation harvests. Roasted by Chromatic Coffee, the cup presents a complex interplay of dark fruit and citrus, characterized by notes of blackberry, black currant, and red grapefruit, balanced by pineapple, floral aromatics, and sweet vanilla.

When evaluating such distinct profiles, enthusiasts often reference the flavor wheel to better articulate the nuances between the bright, acidic top notes and the underlying sweetness. While washed coffees are generally celebrated for their clarity and precision, the specific terroir of Murang’a contributes a unique character that distinguishes this lot within the broader landscape of Kenyan coffee production.