Kenya Endebess Natural Filter

About this coffee

The Endebess Estate is located in the northern part of Kenya’s Rift Valley, near the market town of Kitale in Trans-Nzoia County. The farm measures about 758 hectares, a third of which is used to grow coffee. The varieties on the farm are predominantly SL28, SL34, Batian and Ruiru 11. Harvesting, which occurs from October to December, is done by hand picking using local labour. The coffee cherries are picked at the peak of ripeness, when the red hue edges on purple. Right after picking, the harvest is hand-sorted for damaged or unripe cherries, and foreign matter. The cherries are then spread in a thin layer on raised beds, and slowly dried between 21 and 35 days depending on weather conditions. They are moved around four times a day to promote even drying and prevent mould from setting, and covered both during the hottest time of the day to avoid damaging the cherries, and at night to prevent moisture re-absorption as the temperature cools and the air becomes more humid. The region’s soil is mostly clay loam and sits on the eastern slopes of Mount Elgon, an extinct volcano on the border of Uganda and Kenya. The flowering happens between February and April and the harvest takes place between October and January. The history of the farm goes back to 1940’s when the family of Mr EW D’Ollier owned the farm. The D’Olliers used to process and mill their coffee as well as for the neighbouring small scale farmers. In 1976, they sold the farm to Gatatha Farmers Co Ltd who ran the farm until September 2011when they sold it to the current owners of the farm. The management and current owners are very keen on the welfare of employees. The farm has sponsored two high school students, and financed the renovation of over a dozen homes. It is hoped this program will be expanded in future. *all coffee delivered as whole bean unless specified* *please comment with grind type if you would like your coffee ground*