With nearly 700,000 coffee producers,roughly70% of which are smallholderproducers, Kenya shines as aunique coffee-producing country in East Africa. Within therich coffee region ofNyeri Countyin CentralKenya, is theGiathuguCoffee Factory.The Factoryworks with producers from theRugi Farmers Cooperative Society(FCS), processing their coffeeand helping them improve production.

About the varieties: 

Ruiru 11 – Developed by the Coffee Research Institute in the 1960s after the outbreak of Coffee Leaf Rustand Coffee Berry Disease. These trees were not only disease-tolerant, but also high-yielding, producingcherriesafter just1.5 years.

SL 28 – Scott Agricultural Laboratories created this varietal in 1931 to combat the stresses caused by droughtin Kenya incurred by coffee producers. With deep roots, this varietal was better able to locate moisture inthe water table and more resistant to periods of low precipitation.

SL 34 – Scott Agricultural Laboratories developed this varietal from the French Bourbon in the late 1930s inKenya. Also, a drought tolerant varietal, the SL 34 additionally produced larger cherries with a shortergrowing period.

Batian – Developed by the Coffee Research Institute in Kenya, this varietal was named after one of thehighest peaks on Mt. Kenya. This is a newer varietal, only created in 2010, and exhibits resistance to CoffeeBerry Disease and Leaf Rust whilst maintaining exceptional quality and yield.