*NEW* KENYA - MUGAYA PEABERRY | filter

Vibrant and crisp.

Peaberries develop when a coffee cherry produces a single, rounder seed instead of the usual two flat-sided seeds, occurring in roughly 5–10% of cherries. Often associated with brighter acidity, deeper sweetness and concentrated flavours, this vibrant Kenyan filter coffee bursts with notes of rhubarb jam and cassis, finishing clean and crisp with hints of vanilla and lemon tea.

ORIGIN: Kenya
PRODUCER: Mugaya Washing Station
REGION: Kirinyaga
GROWING ALTITUDE: 1700-1800 m
VARIETAL: Peaberry SL28, SL34
PROCESS: washed
ROAST PROFILE: Light (filter roast)
ACIDITY ◼◼◼◼◻

The Farm

Mugaya Factory was established in 1975 and is one of ten washing stations operated by the Mutira Farmers’ Cooperative Society. It is located near Kagumo, in the highlands of Kirinyaga, where high elevations and fertile volcanic soils provide favourable conditions for growing specialty coffee.

Around 1,700 smallholder farmers deliver their coffee cherries to the station, with SL28 and SL34 varieties accounting for more than 90% of the coffee grown by cooperative members. Their farms are typically very small, averaging around 0.1 hectares, with coffee growing alongside crops such as maize, beans, potatoes and vegetables. Many farmers also cultivate tea, helping diversify their household income.

The Process

Most coffee cherries contain two seeds positioned face-to-face, creating the familiar flat-sided coffee bean. A peaberry develops when a cherry produces only one seed. Without a second seed beside it, the bean grows rounder and smaller, resembling a pea.

Peaberries occur naturally in roughly 5–10% of coffee cherries. They are not a separate coffee variety, but a natural variation in how the seed develops. They are often associated with concentrated flavours, sweetness and bright acidity, although the final cup quality also depends on the variety, growing conditions, processing and roasting.

For this lot, the peaberry selection brings a distinctive expression of Kenya's classic SL28 and SL34 varieties.