Rui Ruiru (anaerobic) - Kenya (NEW)

What is Anaerobic Process?

In anaerobic dry-process, cherries are fermented in a reduced-oxygen environment, such as in a barrel, before they are sun-dried. Reduced-oxygen environment encourages more bacterial fermentation that imparts more intense fruit, floral and sweet notes to the coffee. Anaerobic Rui Ruiru is not an exception to this. It has a deep sweetness with purple/red fruit notes, which is complimented by a balanced acidity and zesty aromatics that reminds us of blood orange.

Rui Ruiru Coffee Factory

Between 1963 - 2014, Rui Ruiru had been a producer of high-quality coffee. It is part of the larger Mathira North Co-Op. In 2014, the wet mill died. Farmers stopped delivering coffee for non-payment. Due to this the machinery rusted, termite infestation destroyed the offices and drying beds, and vegetation took over the entire wet mill. In 2020, Jamii Coffee was able to convince the farmers to deliver coffee. Jamii Coffee signed a preharvest contract, the contract provided the below:

1. Farmers knew exactly how much they were going to get paid per kilo of cherry.

2. Included a fee that would go directly to the management without impacting farmers' earnings.

3. Jamii Coffee took over dry milling charges.

Jamii Coffee went around neighboring villages to talk to the farmers and gain their trust to bring their cherries to the revived washing station. Years of failed promises and non-payment had created a mistrust and only 70 out of 900 farmers got on board with Rui Ruiru station for their pilot run.

Following the success and the timely payment of the pilot run, another 160 farmers joined the movement. 230 farmers delivered cherries to the washing station in 2021/2022 season. Last year, Jamii Coffee was also able to secure a greenhouse for the wet mill through our partnership with New Kenya Platers Cooperative Union (NKPCU). This will support a more controlled system to process the coffee.

The mission for Jamii Coffee is to get the wet mill back to its original production which was 1 million kilos of cherry. Currently, Rui Ruiru is producing 48,000 kilos of cherry.