Karatu Factory
This is a research profile, not an independently conducted farm visit. Producer and coffee relationships are shown only when the records agree. Check the research sources below for supporting evidence.
The story
Established in 1965, the Karatu Coffee Factory occupies an 11-acre site near Gatundu town in Kiambu County. The factory originally operated under a larger society before becoming part of the Gitwe Farmers Cooperative Society in 1995. Today, the facility serves as the headquarters for the Gitwe Farmers Cooperative Society and supports approximately 800 members across the villages of Karatu, Gitwe, Kibiru, and Kigaa.
Challenges
The drying time for parchment coffee is highly dependent on variable climate conditions, ambient temperatures, and the volume of coffee being processed, which can extend the drying period up to 15 days.
Innovations
For SEY's November 2025 AB lot, ripe cherry was hand-sorted, depulped, fermented for about 24 hours, density-sorted through channels, soaked overnight in fresh water, and dried on raised beds for 15 days with continual turning and hand-sorting.
Research sources & verification
These source links were recorded for this farm profile. They document its research trail; a linked source is not, by itself, confirmation of every farm, producer, coffee lot or photo identity.
Research last reviewed: 2026-10-08