In the fall of 2023, we packed our bags and went on an unforgettable journey to the heart of the coffee country Kenya, together with several of our retailers. The goal was to experience the coffee culture from the inside, and perhaps even more importantly, meet the people behind the fantastic coffee we enjoy daily here at home.
Some of the world's most sought-after coffees are grown in Kenya's Central Province. It is in these areas that the Othaya Farmers Cooperative Society is based. It all started when 250 small-scale coffee farmers came together to form a joint cooperative. Since its establishment in 1956, several thousand coffee farmers have joined, making Othaya Farmers Cooperative one of the largest cooperatives in Kenya with 15,000 affiliated farmers. They own a total of 19 washing stations and on this trip the visit went to Rukira and Gatugi, in addition to Gura nursery.
From Rukira to Ryen - and back to Rukira
On our journey through the coffee landscape of the Nyeri district, we were warmly welcomed at the Rukira washing station, a central hub for local coffee farmers. More than 650 farmers deliver their ripe coffee berries here - berries that will later become the juicy coffee many of us love. During our visit, we got to meet several of these farmers. It was a unique experience to stand face to face with those who put so much love and effort into every single coffee berry.
What made the visit even more special was that we had the opportunity to serve the farmers their own coffee, roasted by us in Oslo. This was a touching meeting, where the coffee growers got to taste the result of their hard work, prepared by us who manage, roast and brew the raw material.
Together with our retailers, we brewed coffee with the equipment we had available and served coffee to around 200 farmers who turned up to taste their own product. The broad smiles and engaged conversations that followed demonstrated the importance of coffee to local communities - not just as a source of income, but as a cultural mainstay.
Did they like the coffee? There was a lot of grimacing as Kenyans generally like their coffee darker roasted, and with both sugar and milk, but there were some who thought that this was both an interesting and quite good coffee.
Got to experience the whole process
Together with Othaya, we also visited their nursery Gura, where new coffee plants are grown. Here, our retailers got to put new cuttings in the ground and contribute to the future of the coffee plantations.
In addition, we visited Dormans Coffee where we were given a thorough tour of their dry mill. Here, the coffee beans are sorted after drying, both by hand and by machine. It is then quality-controlled by Dormans' skilled employees before it is packed in bags and sent out into the world, including to Oslo, Norway.
On this trip, we really got to experience the whole process, from seed bean to packaged coffee ready for departure.
A deeper understanding
The trip to Kenya was a reminder of the hard work that goes into making each cup of coffee. It created a strong bond between Solberg & Hansen who roast the coffee, our retailers who sell it, and the farmers who grow the raw materials we are so dependent on. Together with our retailers, we now have an even deeper understanding of how we can contribute to sustainable solutions, not only through production and trade, but by supporting smallholder farmers directly and ensuring they receive a fair price for their work.
Now, one year later, we can finally enjoy the coffee that we saw with our own eyes at the washing stations. You can find fresh coffee batches from both Rukira and Gatugi in our online store now.
Thanks for the trip!