Thunguri

The factory itself has been intensely refurbished since it was purchased, and has employed highly skilled experts in the field. Station employees visit each farmer to collect cherry, in order to increase their engagement, making sure of conditions on the farm, and of the quality of the cherry that enters the factory. Cherry collected from each small zone, similar to the hills model in Burundi, are kept separate. This allows the creation of micro-lots by zone and by days picking. Through extensive tasting we were slowly able to observe how conditions and micro-climate combine to create distinct taste profiles, and even tasted a few separated single farmer lots, processed in the field on small hand-cranked depulpers. Long Miles are committed to growing slowly, building trust within the community and creating a real difference for their partner coffee farmers, just as they have in Burundi. Furthermore, the team are in discussions about a small plot of land in western Kenya, not far from the border with Uganda, where they look to establish their own farm, planted from scratch with a focus on regenerative farming practices.

On the edge of the beautiful Mount Kenya Forest, the soils here are rich and fertile, and mainly used to grow tea. During a drive through the rolling hills of Kiringa, it is actually rather rare to see a coffee tree, with just a few plots interspersed between swathes of lush green tea fields.

These coffees are our first step together with the team at Thunguri, and we look forward to the coming seasons of collaboration. It’s very exciting to have one of our closest and most trusted partners involved in one of our favourite origins, and have every confidence that this is just the start of a fruitful and delicious adventure.