Kenya - Makena Estate

Makena Coffee Estate, managed by Mr. Japheth Mwaura, is a family-owned farm located in Gariama, Rung’eto sub-location, Kirinyaga County, approximately 20 km from Embu town on the slopes of Mt. Kenya. The estate, which spans 18,000 coffee stems, is renowned for its rich red-volcanic soil and favorable climate, with an annual rainfall of 1,500mm and cool temperatures ranging between 13-26°C. Agronomic practices at the estate include weeding, pruning, spraying, fertilizer application, and mulching, though the farm faces challenges such as high labor and input costs, as well as cold weather that can affect coffee berry development. The estate benefits from the advisory support of an experienced agronomist from CMS Ltd. Makena Coffee Estate produces an average of 90,000 kgs of coffee annually, with a rigorous processing method that involves selective hand-picking of ripe cherries, wet processing using clean river water, and sun drying before delivery to the dry mill. The estate is committed to maintaining the highest standards of hygiene throughout the process, utilizing water sourced from the nearby Nyamindi River.