The Project
Gatina Washing Station, managed by Mugaga Farmers' Cooperative Society, is located between Mt. Kenya and the Aberdares mountains.

The station has 790 members, with over 30% being women, who collectively cultivate 142 hectares. This translates to small coffee gardens as family projects and very specialised processing.

Kahawa Bora Mill allows small estate owners to preserve their coffee's identity. Before, smaller lots were blended, losing the individual farmer's recognition and quality payment. Kahawa Bora's microlot program and mill ownership ensure traceability.

Farmers earn more for high-quality coffee and can connect their name to it, fostering long-term relationships with roasters. Roasters benefit from linking farmer stories to their coffees, creating customer interest, added value, and supporting lasting farmer relationships.

The Coffee
Farmers handpick ripe coffee cherries and deliver them to Gatina or collection points.

The cherries are sorted, and any damaged or unripe ones are removed. A cherry clerk ensures only ripe cherries are processed. Subpar cherries are taken home by farmers for lower-grade sale.

The ripe cherries are pulped, fermented, and washed with water from local rivers. They are then dried on raised beds for 7 to 15 days, with frequent turning and inspection.

Finally, the dried parchment is sent to Kahawa Bora Millers for milling, with the option to preserve quality by milling smaller lots separately.