Kenya, Gakuyu-Ini AA

by Reuben Hills

Gakuyu-ini, Kirinyaga — Kenya at its brightest. Perched at 1,567m in the red soils of Central Kenya, Gakuyu-ini Coffee Factory has been producing standout lots since 1982. Today, over 1,000 smallholder farmers bring their harvests here, growing classic SL28 and SL34 varietals under the Thirikwa Co-operative. Freshly picked cherries arrive daily, pulped and washed with water from the Kiri River, then carefully graded and dried on raised beds — a meticulous process that locks in the factory’s signature vibrancy. Expect the best of Kenya in the cup: juicy mango, hibiscus, delicate florals and a citrus lift.