ONIBUS COFFEE KENYA / Thunguri AA

The Thunguri coffee processing plant is one of eight processing plants under the Ushirika Producers Cooperative. Approximately 1,050 producers send coffee cherries to this plant, which produces more than 2,000 bags of coffee annually.

Throughout Kenya, farmers often intercrop coffee with other crops such as tea or corn. However, the Nyeri region is one of the few areas that focuses solely on coffee cultivation. Its high altitude, volcanic red soil, and optimal timing and amount of rainfall have made Nyeri a renowned coffee-producing region.

During the processing, after the pulp is removed from the coffee cherries, they undergo 36 to 48 hours of dry fermentation. The mucilage layer is then removed via a water system, followed by soaking in a water tank for approximately 16 to 24 hours. Finally, the coffee is naturally sun-dried on African-style raised beds. This dry fermentation and soaking process gives the coffee the characteristic high ripeness and bright, juicy flavor of the Nijri region.

Due to the local custom of dividing land among children in Nijelli, residential land in the southern region has gradually increased, resulting in a slight decrease in coffee plantation area. However, in Thunguri's members are united and continue to focus on producing high-quality coffee.