Kenya - AA Priory Farm

• Region - Nandi County
• Varietals - Ruiri, Batian
• Process - Washed
• Taste notes - Cola, Blood Orange, Grapefruit
• Roast level - Medium/Light
  
  

Great Rift Coffee of Nandi County

This lot was grown, harvested, and processed by Great Rift Coffee of Nandi County, Kenya, and harvested in October – November 2024. Established in 2019, Great Rift Coffee is a vertically integrated coffee company based in Nandi Hills, Kenya, specialising in the cultivation, processing, roasting, and export of high‑quality Arabica coffee. The company operates with a farm‑to‑cup approach, ensuring quality control at every stage of production.

Sustainable Farming Practices

Great Rift Coffee is grown under a canopy of shade trees, mimicking the natural forest environment and providing a habitat for local wildlife. Additional crops and indigenous trees are also cultivated to improve soil fertility, reduce erosion, and promote a diverse ecosystem.

In line with organic farming principles, Great Rift Coffee avoids synthetic chemicals, opting instead for natural pest control and the use of organic fertilisers, such as manure from its goat farm.

Great Rift is also committed to efficient water management, employing irrigation systems designed to minimise water wastage.

There are buffer zones around Great Rift’s farm, preserving natural vegetation and providing a habitat for pollinators, which is also encouraged by the bee hives found throughout the farm.

Community Engagement

Great Rift Coffee actively engages with the local farming community, working with 250 to 300 coffee farmers in the region. The support available to these farmers includes the provision of high-quality coffee seedlings, financial assistance in the form of loans and subsidies for farming inputs, and training in best agricultural practices.

Great Rift’s presence in the region also provides work opportunities with fair wages in the form of jobs at its farm, mill, and roastery. In addition, the company has funded the construction of boreholes for local schools, ensuring that children in the area have access to fresh water. Also of note is Great Rift’s scholarship program, which provides full secondary school academic scholarships to the top-performing girls in Nandi County.