Background

Muchagara Factory is named after one of the villages in Kirinyaga County.
The factory was opened for processing in 1959 making it the oldest wet processing centre in Kirinyaga.
The area is very fertile for agricultural production and therefore making the factory very viable to be built in that location.
The peaks of snow-capped Mt. Kenya are very visible and give good scenery for tourists.

This particular offering comes directly from the Muchagara wet mill. Muchagara is a Kikuyu name for one of the villages in the Kirinyaga District. The mill was opened for in 1959. Nearly 500 members of the Baragwi Co-op use the Muchagara wet mill. Cherries are fermented using fresh water from the nearby Kamweti River and sun-dried after extensive processing. The peaks of snow-capped Mt. Kenya are clearly visible from Muchagara, offering an incredible backdrop for those who seek out this mill’s exquisite coffees.

The Baragwi Farmers Co-op, named after the small village where it is located. It borders with Ngariama and Njuki-ini locations to the East, Kabare and Kirima locations to the West; Mt Kenya to the North and Mwea Division to the South. Rich with volcanic soil, this region is recognized for a smooth body that supports the dynamic acidity which makes Kenyan coffees so unique. The Baragwi Cooperative has more than 16,892 registered members. These members are drawn from the 12 wet mills which form the society. The society has a workforce of 137 staff members out of which 31 are female and 106 are male.

The Society’s head office is situated at Kianyaga market at the end of Kutus/Kianyaga tarmac road. The society was registered in October of 1953 to promote social economic interests of its members, processing and exporting coffee and access to better markets.

Processing Techniques

Fermentation done with Fresh River Water and then sundried on raised beds