Kenya Kirinyaga Rungeto Karimikui AA

Description

Coming from family owned farms, located in the fertile foothills of Mount Kenya, that are organized around the Karimikui Factory (wet mill) in Kirinyaga County, Kenya. Farmer plots are so small that measurements are based on the numbers of trees, not area of land (very small scale farming). Farmers who process their coffee at the Karimikui Factory are members of the Rungeto Farmers Cooperative Society, which was established in 1953. Rungeto Farmers Cooperative Society operates three factories including the Karimikui factory, which has a great reputation for the quality and consistency in the processing of the coffee

Tasting Notes: A very clean, exotic and balanced cup of coffee. Kenyan coffees are known for their acidity and spice tones; this cup hit the classic Kenyan cup profile on the head without being overwhelming like some (very balanced in its tones). Not quite sizzling but a very noticeable lemony floral tone upfront at the light to medium roast points balanced with some herbal spice and fading into a nice chocolaty tone that lingers on the tongue. Light roasts will swing the balance towards the floral citric side, darker roasts more towards the jazzy bakers chocolate alley. Holds up into 2nd crack for you dark roast fans. Low acidity and strong bittersweet chocolate tones with the traditional Kenyan spice note that leaves a very smoky tone on the pallet.

Roasting Notes: Clean, great screen and easy to roast. If you like a little acidity, this cup shines at a nice medium roast. Lighter roasts work well but only for very citric floral coffee fans. Right around 2nd crack to just into it will reduce the acidity pretty drastically from the lighter roast points. a 3-4 day setup really smoothed out the cup and brought forth a much greater depth of flavors.

Kirinyaga coffee always holds a special place in my heart. My earliest coffee memories involved Kirinyaga coffee. Garry (well before Burman Coffee was in existence) was always a coffee head, I remember helping my mother make him pour overs of his favorite brew when I was only a couple feet tall. Golden Kirinyaga coffee from Victor Allen was his premium special coffee, not an everyday item, but one for special occasions. Even back then Kenyans were very expensive and rarer coffees. I remember the first fathers day I was actual able to buy him something myself from saved money, it was a bag of Golden Kirinyaga coffee. We later worked with Victor on/off with Burman Coffee over numerous coffees and origins (including Kirinyaga) but unfortunately Victor left this world late last year. Here is a cup to you Mr. Allen!