Kamavindi Coffee, from Embu, Kenya
Juan Cañas
Kamavindi Coffee is a family-run coffee business and washing station located in Embu, Kenya, sitting at an elevation of 1,650 m.a.s.l. Established in 1958 by founders John Njiru and Ann Rwamba, the farm began with just 100 trees, the maximum allowed for local growers under colonial rule. After Kenya gained independence in 1964, the restriction was lifted, and today Kamavindi has planted more than 10,000 coffee trees. The farm grows a mix of varieties: SL28 and SL34 (8,000 trees) , as well as Ruiru 11 (2,000 trees).
Kamavindi operates its own private washing station, built in 1994 to preserve quality and ensure consistency during processing. In 2012, they discovered specialty coffee and pivoted toward micro-lots and direct relationships with importers, focusing on signature lots like Kamathura.
The washing station can only process coffee from Kamavindi’s own farm, as currently in Kenya it is not possible to buy cherries directly from smallholders (all coffee is traded as green beans only). However, the family has partnered with cooperatives and other private washing stations in the region to improve and oversee the processing, milling, and quality of coffee for various lots they work with under Kamavindi Coffee Lab.
A Coffee Lab in Kenya
Kamavindi is named after a small river that flows through the property. Locals used to plant yams nearby and washed them in the river, removing the inedible parts (which in the Embu language are called Mavindi).
Beyond their own production, the family founded the Kamavindi Coffee Lab in 2018. This training center and cupping lab was created to share knowledge with neighboring farmers, offering a platform to learn about quality, processing, and specialty markets. When Kenya’s coffee regulations changed in 2022, Kamavindi Coffee Lab registered for an export license, enabling the farm to sell directly to international buyers and also support top lots from cooperative societies and other private washing stations. Through these partnerships, Kamavindi now impacts thousands of farmers across the Mount Kenya region.
We began working with Kamavindi in 2026, drawn by their commitment to transparency, quality, and community education. Needless to say, we are super excited to keep building this relationship!
Coffees from Kamavindi
Coffee With Added Value
At The Coffee Quest, transparency is key—If you have any questions regarding our coffees, do not hesitate to reach out! We also encourage you to review our Impact Report for an in-depth look at our sustainable sourcing practices and projects.
