Mbature Family, Kamavindi Estate Lot #2, Kenya

Mbature Family, Kamavindi Estate, Lot #2 SL* Washed, Kenya | SEY

SEY describes this as its second release of the season from Kamavindi, one of its main collaborators in Kenya and the center of its ongoing exploration of Kenyan varieties and lot separations. In the cup, the card lists rose hips, candied orange, and currants.

facts

• Producer: Mbature Family
• Process: Washed
• Variety: SL*
• Roasted: October 5, 2026 (“best after two weeks”)
• Harvested: November 2025

location: Kenya

• Region: Embu
• Elevation: 1,680 masl

pricing

• FOB (USD; green): $9.86/kg
• DDP: $23.94/kg

processing

Hand-picked at peak ripeness, hand-sorted, and floated to remove defects. De-pulped on the day of harvest, dry-fermented for 18–20 hours in darkness, washed and turned repeatedly in fresh water, then dry-fermented for an additional 24 hours. Washed again, floated through channels to sort by density, and dried on raised beds under shade nets to 16% moisture before finishing on upper beds at ~10.5%.

farm

Kamavindi was founded in 1958 by the late John Njiru Mbature during British colonial rule. It began as a 20-hectare (~50-acre) farm with just 100 coffee trees, the legal limit for native Africans at the time. When restrictions were lifted in 1961, John planted an additional 500 trees. Kamavindi grew to 10,000 trees: 7,000 SL28 and 3,000 Ruiru 11.

It is now managed by Peter Mbature, his mother Hellen Weveti, and his sister Gladwell Wanjira. The farm is transitioning fully to SL28 and establishing a training center for farmers and coffee buyers on processing and farm management.

about SL*

SEY released this selection last year as SL34. Recent genetic testing on this farm and others has challenged assumptions about which varieties are actually cultivated in Kenya; SEY now believes this lot comprises SL34 and SL9, and calls it an ongoing research project.

references

• Mbature Family, Kamavindi Estate, Lot #2 SL* Washed, Kenya | SEY