Most coffee in Kenya is grown by smallholder farmers and processed at cooperative-run washing stations. Kamagogo is exactly that kind of place.

During harvest, farmers bring freshly picked cherries to the nearest station every day — often on foot, by motorcycle, or using pack donkeys. At the station, the cherries are hand-sorted, weighed, and logged under the supervision of the station manager, ensuring traceability and quality from the very first step.

The Kamagogo Coffee Factory is located in Kagumoini, in Muranga County, central Kenya. It is part of the Kiru Cooperative, which operates four washing stations and works with around 3,500 smallholder farmers in total. Kamagogo itself serves roughly 1,000 growers. The local team manages not only coffee intake and processing, but also farmer payments, advisory support, and the day-to-day running of the station.

The cooperative model allows small-scale farmers to access international markets that would otherwise be out of reach due to limited individual volumes. By working together, farmers benefit from better pricing, shared processing expertise, and access to long-term support such as technical assistance, seedling nurseries, and agronomic guidance.

Kamagogo sits at around 1,800 meters above sea level, in an area known for its mineral-rich red volcanic soils — ideal conditions for coffee cultivation. Annual rainfall averages about 1,200 mm, while cooler temperatures ranging from 13 to 24 °C create a stable growing environment. Coffee trees flower twice a year, with the main harvests taking place from May to June and again from November to December.