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Sweetness: Pineapple
Acidity: Citrus
Aftertaste: Orange juice -
Origin: Kenya
Region: Kirinyaga
Farm: Kii Factory
Altitude: 1600–1900 masl
Variety: Batian, SL28, SL34, Ruiru 11
Process: Washed -
PROCESSING
Kii Factory follows the traditional Kenyan washed process, a meticulous method known for producing exceptional clarity and vibrant acidity. Freshly harvested cherries are delivered daily by cooperative members, carefully sorted, and depulped shortly after arrival. The coffee is then fermented overnight to remove the remaining fruit mucilage before being washed with fresh river water.
As with many of Kenya’s finest coffees, the parchment is subsequently soaked in clean water before being transferred to raised drying beds. This extended washing and soaking process contributes to the remarkable transparency, structured acidity, and sweetness that define the cup profile of Kii coffees.
HISTORY
Kii Factory is operated by the Rungeto Farmers Cooperative Society and serves approximately 1,215 active coffee-growing members in Kirinyaga County. Coffee cultivation in the area dates back to 1953, and most farmers manage small plots of around one-third of a hectare, typically growing about 400 coffee trees alongside other crops.
Rungeto manages three renowned factories—Kii, Karimikui, and Kiangoi—and has earned an international reputation for producing some of Kenya’s most consistently outstanding coffees. Through partnerships focused on quality improvement and farmer support, the cooperative continues to invest in raising both yields and cup quality.
Located on the fertile slopes surrounding Mount Kenya, Kirinyaga offers rich volcanic soils, abundant rainfall, and ideal growing conditions for coffee. These factors combine to create coffees celebrated for their sweetness, fruit complexity, and vibrant acidity, with Kii AA standing among the region’s most respected expressions.