1 1

Pastime Coffee

Kamwangi AA Kenya

Kamwangi AA Kenya

$19.75 USD
$19.75 USD
Sale Sold out
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Size
  • We roast and fulfill orders Tuesday and Thursday


BRIGHT, FULL-BODIED, POWERFUL. 

Producer: Various smallholder producers
Location: Ngariama, Kirinyaga
Elevation: 1800 meters
Variety: SL 28, SL 34 
Process: Fully Washed

The Kamwangi washing station is near Mount Kenya National Park. Mount Kenya, Africa's second-highest snow-capped peak, is crucial to the region. Its glaciers feed rivers like the Sagana, Thiba, and Nyamindi, contributing to annual temperatures between 13 and 25°C, which is ideal for coffee growing. The Ngariama area's mountainous terrain provides diverse altitudes for cultivation. Farms are typically a 30-minute walk (1-2 km) from the washing station, though access can be challenging during the rainy season due to mud. The washing station communicates coffee weight and other data to farmers via telephone.

The predominant population in Ngariama is the Kikuyu, who also speak the Kikuyu language. Farms are typically small (1-2 hectares), with adults working and children attending schools, which are not free. Unfortunately, the cost of schooling limits educational and future opportunities, leading to a growing trend of young people migrating to cities for better jobs, often leaving their parents on farms or abandoning them entirely.

Coffee is the primary economic driver in Ngariama, supplemented by banana and maize crops. Grevillea, macadamia, and false banana trees provide shade for coffee plants. Local producers use fences to protect crops from wild animals like elephants and buffaloes, respecting government prohibitions on logging and hunting.

Processing at the Kamwangi station is meticulous. Coffee cherries undergo hand-sorting, pulping, and 24-36 hour fermentation. After fermentation, they are washed, density-graded using water from the Nyamindi River, and then sun-dried on African beds for 12-20 days. To protect them from extreme temperatures, coffees are covered with plastic during midday and at night. The factory has implemented wastewater soak pits away from the water source to promote environmental conservation, though it does not currently engage in wastewater treatment.

This particular lot boasts a pronounced bright acidity that reminds us of meyer lemon or ripe cranberries, balanced out by a rich molasses-like sweetness that leaves us wanting to continually fill our mugs. 
View full details

Shipping policy.

We roast all orders on Tuesday and Thursday. Orders placed after 4:30am PST on Tuesday or Thursday will be shipped on the following roast day.

Please select a secure delivery address to send your coffee. All packages are shipped with insurance; however, this does not cover packages that have gone missing after they are marked as delivered by the carrier. Pastime Coffee is not responsible for packages that are lost or stolen.

Please email orders@pastime.coffee for any additional questions or concerns.

Roasting style.

All of our single-origin coffees are roasted as lightly as possible while ensuring full flavor development, clarity, and highlighting terroir.

Our blends, 4:30am and Sure Thing offer a variety of roasting styles and are engineered for consistency and reliability. Please visit those products for more information on those specific roasting styles.

Please note that our coffee should be rested for at least 7 days after roasting to achieve optimal results.

Can you grind my coffee for me?

Yes! All orders are shipped whole bean by default. If you need us to grind your order, please let us know in the notes section at checkout. Don't forget to also add your brew method so we get the grind size correct.