Great Rift Coffee

Great Rift Coffee traces its origins to 2017, when founder David Muge returned to Kenya after spending 35 years in the United Kingdom. The enterprise began with a modest coffee farm in the Nandi Hills that Muge inherited from his mother. Upon his return, Muge identified significant systemic challenges facing farmers in the region, particularly regarding market access and the lack of leverage smallholders held against large multinational conglomerates that historically dominated the Kenyan coffee sector. This realization served as the catalyst for building a vertically integrated company that manages the process from cultivation to export.

Since its formal establishment in 2019, the company has expanded its footprint significantly. Under the leadership of David and Zakiya-Rose Muge, the estate has grown from its initial small plot to cultivating approximately 300 acres of coffee. The expansion strategy is deliberate and measured, with the team aiming to add 50 acres of new planting annually to ensure that the growth remains manageable and that quality standards are maintained across all plots. Today, the estate functions as a collection of farms, each utilizing different varieties and processing methods to optimize the output of the land.

Geographically, the farm benefits from the unique terroir of the Great Rift Valley. The region is characterized by mineral-rich volcanic black soil, which provides an ideal foundation for robust root development in coffee trees. The high altitude of the Nandi Hills, combined with moderate temperatures and consistent rainfall, allows the coffee cherries to mature slowly. This extended ripening period is essential for developing the complex, full-bodied flavor profiles, fruity overtones, and balanced acidity that have become the hallmark of the company's specialty offerings.

In practice, Great Rift Coffee emphasizes sustainable and regenerative agricultural techniques. The company integrates shade-grown coffee trees among indigenous vegetation to preserve local biodiversity and create natural buffer zones. Beyond their own acreage, the company works with upwards of 250 local farmers in the Nandi Hills region. By acting as a vertically integrated entity, they provide these farmers with a more direct path to the international market, bypassing traditional intermediaries and ensuring greater transparency and fairer compensation for the producers.

Processing at the estate is focused on precision and quality control. The company is known for producing high-quality washed coffees, often featuring varieties such as Ruiru 11 and Batian. These varieties are selected for their resilience and cup quality, producing notes often described as having a zingy, green-apple-like acidity paired with deep, sweet undertones of caramel and dried fruit. This commitment to quality is supported by a rigorous approach to traceability, which allows roasters to verify the origin of their beans down to the specific hillside where they were grown.

As the Kenyan coffee landscape shifts due to recent legislative changes—which have sought to limit the influence of large conglomerates in the value chain—Great Rift Coffee stands as a model for independent, producer-led growth. By maintaining control over their own supply chain and fostering direct relationships with roasters, they are positioning themselves as a key player in the movement toward ethical, transparent, and high-quality Kenyan coffee production.