Fantanesh, our Quality Manager in Addis Ababa, visited the Bahati Blue farm in 2024. It was the first time she had encountered shade-grown coffee trees in Kenya. The farm is run by husband and wife team Sheila and Alkis, who grow two varieties: Batian and Ruiru 11.
Usually, the harvest takes place from December to March, but due to heavy rains this year, it stopped in February.
After the cherries are harvested at full maturity, they rest overnight on drying beds and are pulped the next morning before being washed.
The harvest lasts all day, to collect as many ripe cherries as possible and prevent them from falling from the trees, which would reduce the quality of the batches.
Here, a C quality, which is defined by the size and density of the grains, C being the third quality, after AA and AB.