Our first Kenyan coffee of 2026 is, thankfully, exactly the sort of coffee we hope for when we start cupping fresh Kenyan arrivals. This lot comes from Kiamugumo, one of the factories operated by New Ngariama Farmers Cooperative Society in Kirinyaga.

We bought this coffee through Café Imports, who source their Kenyan lots through Dormans. As usual, we cupped through a number of options blind and this one was the easy kind of standout. It had the clarity and structure we want from washed Kenyan coffee, but with a lot of fruit and sweetness sitting right up front.

Kirinyaga coffees have become a pretty regular part of our lineup over the years. This one fits neatly into that tradition. It is bright, structured, sweet and has excellent red-fruit quality that makes Kenyan coffee feel so distinct. On the cupping table we were tasting red grape, raspberry and panela. As the label says; “an absolute classic” and, honestly, that feels about right.

ORIGIN: Kiamugumo / New Ngariama FCS / Kirinyaga / Kenya
VARIETAL: SL28 / SL34
PROCESSING: Washed Process
NOTES: Red Grape / Raspberry / Panela