Thirikwa AA

This micro-lot comes from the Thirikwa Cooperative Society, whose farmers grow coffee in the rich, red volcanic soils around Mt. Kenya. Located approximately 130 kilometres from Nairobi, the cooperative brings together over 1,500 smallholder farmers, including 674 women, who collectively produce around 250 tonnes of coffee cherries each season.Farmers carefully hand-pick ripe cherries and deliver them to the Gakuyu-ini wet mill on the same day. Here, the cherries are sorted to remove unripe and overripe fruit before processing begins. The mill uses river water, recirculating it to reduce water consumption and waste

After pulping, the coffee undergoes fermentation and washing to remove the remaining fruit mucilage. It is then soaked, sorted by density and spread across raised beds to dry evenly in the sun. Once dried, the coffee moves to the dry mill for further sorting by size and density.Kenyan coffees are sold through either the Nairobi Coffee Exchange or direct-sale channels, with cooperatives often choosing the auction system. Grades such as AA, AB and Peaberry describe physical characteristics rather than guaranteeing cup quality. Across these grades, careful farming, selection and processing help express the distinctive character of Kenyan coffee—and the dedication of the people behind it.