Mugaya | Kenya

Established in 1975, Mugaya Coffee Factory is a member of the Mutira Farmers Cooperative Society in the Kirinyaga district, Central province. It serves over 1600 farmers, each owning an average of 180 trees. The main coffee varieties grown are SL28, SL34, and Ruiru 11.

Smallholder farmers bring ripe cherries to the factory, where they undergo wet processing. Using a disc pulper, the factory removes the skin and pulp from the cherries. The coffee is then fermented overnight, cleaned, soaked, and spread out on raised drying tables. Drying takes 7 to 15 days, depending on the climate, temperature, and production volume, with frequent turning and sorting during this stage.

The factory receives support from Coffee Management Services (CMS) to increase coffee production through farmer training, access to inputs, Good Agricultural Practice seminars, and providing the latest materials on sustainable farming. By paying producers high returns for their coffee, Mugaya Coffee Factory aims to establish transparent, trust-based relationships with farmers, support industry growth, and elevate the standards of quality coffee in Kenya.

Responsibly sourced by the excellent team at Condesa CoLab. Packaging imagery by Abigail Varney.