Kainamui washing station, also known as the Kainamui Coffee Factory, is nestled on the slopes of Mount Kenya in Kirinyaga County. It is one of three active washing stations owned and operated by the New Ngariama Coffee Farmers’ Cooperative Society (FCS), which has a membership of 1,800 smallholder producers. Each farmer grows an average of 200 coffee trees on nutrient-rich volcanic soil.
Farmers handpick and deliver their coffee to the washing station, where the beans go through a wet mill that separates out the denser beans. These beans then undergo multiple fermentation stages. The first lasts about 24 hours followed by a secondary fermentation lasting 12-24 hours, and finally there is a 24 hour soak in clean water. The beans are then dried on raised beds for 5-10 days. This meticulous process is what amplifies the beans' bright acidity and intricate fruit flavors, a hallmark of Kenyan coffee.
The Cooperative is certified by the Rainforest Alliance and works with TRACE Kenya, a local project to implement and monitor best organic practces. They engage in various conservation efforts, including creating wastewater soak pits, reusing coffee pulp as organic fertilizer, and promoting tree planting among members. The Cooperative aims to provide members with the highest possible returns for their harvests while setting aside a portion of sales to financially assist members’ with school fees and farming needs.
