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Introduction to Mathira Karatina Factory in Kenya's Nyeri Region - How to Brew Kenyan Coffee

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Professional coffee knowledge exchange For more coffee bean information Please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account cafe_style) Kenya is a model country for producing excellent coffee beans Coffee was introduced from Britain in 1900 The coffee tree varieties were only traditional Arabica until 1950 when Kenya's current most outstanding SL28 and SL34 Bourbon varieties were developed All processed using the washed method and graded AA Plus A

Professional coffee knowledge exchange, more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style)

Kenya is a model country for producing excellent coffee beans. Coffee was introduced from Britain in 1900, and coffee tree varieties were limited to traditional Arabica until 1950, when the current outstanding bourbon varieties SL28 and SL34 emerged. All coffees are processed using the washed method, with grading adopting the AA PLUS, AA, AB system, but this only indicates uniformity of bean size and does not represent quality differences. Premium altitudes range from 4,200 to 6,800 feet. From 2009 to 2010, due to the impact of global warming and plant diseases, production decreased, leading to higher prices. Subsequently, the continuous rise of specialty coffee and Kenya coffee's irreplaceable blackberry flavor has kept high-quality Kenyan beans at premium prices. The coffee beans are relatively large with prominent wine-like blackberry acidity, and can be harvested twice a year - April to June is the secondary season, while October to December is the main harvest season.

Most coffee beans are uniformly graded and inspected by the Kenya Coffee Board and then sold at auction. The public auction system dates back to before 1934, adopting an agent system. Kenya has 50 licensed agents who send sample beans to their respective customers for cupping. Customers can have their agents bid on their favorite coffees at auction. However, this approach seems to encourage middle agents from eroding farmers' income. Therefore, in 2006, Kenya reopened 32 independent sales agents who can directly contact foreign coffee buyers without going through auctions. However, all must meet Kenya Coffee Board standards for quality, storage, bank guarantees, etc., to be sold. Both systems operate in parallel, and after years of development, it has become the most transparent auction distribution system, where better-quality coffee can achieve better prices through cupping, encouraging more cooperatives and farms to participate.

Mathira Kariea Processing Plant is located in the Nyeri region of western Kenya and began operations in 1951. In 2011, production was 220,000 kilograms (about 3,666 bags), with hopes of reaching 350,000 kilograms (about 5,800 bags) in the next season. It is a small processing plant that only selects fully ripe red cherries hand-picked by farmers. The harvested cherries are delivered to the processing plant immediately on the same day, where pulp and fruit flesh are removed, then fermented for 16-48 hours and washed to remove surface mucilage. This is a crucial process for maintaining the robust blackberry acidity, and the price of coffee beans is determined here. Therefore, more and more Kenyan beans are choosing to undergo this important process at small processing plants, because freshness ensures good quality.

FrontStreet Coffee recommends brewing parameters:

V60/90℃/1:15/time 2'20"