Uvuu Factory is one of 6 central processing sites that are part of the Kikima Farmers’ Cooperative. This is a somewhat less known region for Kenyan coffee, traditionally top end specialty coffee comes from Mt Kenya or Mt Elgon. This region has been farming and producing coffee for a long time, but recently the local government and cooperatives have put energy into gaining some market share. The farmers of the Uvuu Factory work together to pool resources and create uniform lots that are of an exportable size. The sharing of costs and sharing of infrastructure means each farmer doesn;t have to buy their own equipment and waste capital that could be spent on family or other ways that might improve coffee quality. This lot is fully washed, floated, fermented overnight submerged in tanks, and dried on raised beds. The result is bright and layered, with notes of candied orange, papaya and the creamy sweetness of lemon meringue pie. Our connection to Uvuu is thanks to Vava Angwenyi of Vava Coffee. Vava has been working to build fairer supply chains for farmers across East Africa. Vava coffee is B Corp-certified, rooted in community, and committed to ensuring coffee farmers are able to thrive. Meeting Vava and the farmers of Uvuu last year was refreshing to see that high quality coffee doesn’t only come from shiny and established names and regions. The quality of the coffee is so often determined by the efforts and standards of the people, despite the fancy toys or global name recognition. Thank you to the Uvuu Factory producers, to Vava and the Sucafina team for helping us bring this coffee to you.