Karatu SL28 Washed

$27.50
About This Coffee

ROAST: Light
ORIGIN: Karatu Factory, Kiambu, Kenya
NOTES: Blackcurrant, Apricot, Elderflower

This washed SL28 from Karatu Factory is a vibrant expression of one of Kenya’s most celebrated coffee varieties. Grown by smallholder producers in the highlands of Kiambu, it delivers the juicy acidity and structured sweetness we love in Kenyan coffees, balanced by a softer, delicate floral character.

The cup opens with bright, concentrated blackcurrant before moving into ripe apricot sweetness. As it cools, elderflower florals emerge, bringing a lifted, aromatic quality to a finish that is clean, juicy, and effortlessly balanced.

Story

Karatu Coffee Factory, established in 1965 near Gatundu, serves a network of smallholder producers across nearby villages. Set on 11 acres, the factory has long been a hub for processing and community—supporting farmers growing coffee alongside banana and maize, with shade from grevillea and macadamia trees.

Components

Origin & Process

📍 Kiambu, Kenya
🌱 Karatu Factory (smallholder producers)
🌄 1850–1883 MASL
🍒 SL28
⚙️ Washed

🍒 Smallholder-grown, selectively harvested
⚙️ Disk depulped at the factory
💧 24-hour fermentation + full washing (≈72 hrs total)
🌱 Wastewater managed through soil absorption pits
☀️ Dried on raised beds (7–15 days depending on climate)

Brewing Recommendation

Best brewed as a Pour Over