Gondo AB Kenya

JAMMY, DYNAMIC, FLORAL. 

Producer: Various smallholder producers
Location: Mathioya, Murang’a
Elevation: 1900 meters
Variety: SL 28, K7 
Process: Fully Washed

Established in 1998 in the Kihoya subregion of Murang’a county’s Mathioya District, the Gondo coffee factory currently works with 727 dedicated producers.

These farmers pour immense care into their coffee trees throughout the season, culminating in the selective hand-picking of perfectly ripe red cherries. Their commitment to quality continues after the harvest with a second sorting to remove any underripe, overripe, or foreign materials.

On the same day they are harvested, the cherries are delivered to the wet mill for wet-processing using fresh water from the nearby Kananahu stream. Importantly, the processing water is recirculated and then disposed of in evaporation and seepage pits, demonstrating a commitment to protecting local waterways.

The pulped beans undergo a fermentation process for 16-18 hours to remove the mucilage, followed by washing and grading. The resulting parchment is then carefully sun-dried, with moisture meters ensuring consistent quality. Finally, the dry parchment is hulled, graded, sorted, and bagged, ready for the next stage.

The Kihoya area experiences two rainy seasons, a longer one from April to June that supports the main crop, and a shorter one between October and November that nourishes the fly crop. The region's proximity to Mount Kenya also means it's a haven for diverse native wildlife, including snakes, deer, hare, weaverbirds, owls, and hawks, alongside numerous indigenous Neem trees.

The coffee farms here are typically small, ranging from 1 to 2 hectares, and are primarily worked by adults while children attend school. Unfortunately, the cost of schooling can be a barrier to education and future opportunities in this largely impoverished area. This lack of opportunity is contributing to a significant migration of young people to cities in search of better employment, often leaving their parents behind or even leading to the abandonment of farms – a challenge that intensifies each year. Despite these difficulties, some producers hold onto the hope that coffee can offer their children promising business prospects.

Pastime is committed to supporting these dedicated farmers and ensuring the future of these exceptional coffees. By partnering with Red Fox and paying well above market rates, we aim to incentivize coffee farming in the Gondo region for generations to come.