Mugaya, Filter - Kenya

Established in 1975, Mugaya Factory is one of ten washing stations operated by the Mutira Farmers' Cooperative Society. Located near Kagumo in Kenya's Kirinyaga highlands, the station benefits from high elevations and fertile volcanic soils that provide favourable conditions for specialty coffee cultivation.

Around 1,700 smallholder farmers deliver their ripe coffee cherries to Mugaya. Farms are typically small, averaging just 0.1 hectares, with coffee cultivated alongside food crops such as maize, beans, potatoes and vegetables. Many farmers also grow tea, helping diversify household income.

Most coffee cherries develop two seeds positioned face-to-face, forming the familiar flat-sided coffee bean. Occasionally, a cherry produces just one seed, which develops into a smaller, rounder bean known as a peaberry. This natural variation occurs in approximately 5–10% of coffee cherries. Peaberries are not a separate coffee variety, but a distinct form of seed development. Their smaller, rounded shape is often associated with concentrated sweetness, vibrant acidity and expressive flavours, although the final cup profile is also influenced by variety, growing conditions, processing and roasting.

For this lot, the peaberry selection brings a distinctive expression of the SL28 and SL34 varieties, showcasing the bright acidity and complex fruit character for which Kenyan coffees are celebrated.

• Region: Kirinyaga
• Country: Kenya
• Elevation: 1,700 - 1,800 masl
• Variety: Peaberry SL28, SL34
• Process: Washed