This coffee is from Guama Village in Kirinyaga County, Kenya, produced by the Baragwi Farmers Cooperative Society. The coffee grows at 1700-1800 meters altitude and is processed using washed methods with dry fermentation. It features SL 28, SL 34, and Ruiri 11 cultivars. The cup profile is very bright with citric acidity, complemented by boysenberry and red apple sweetness with lemon notes.
Kiss the Hippo launched in 2018 as London's first carbon negative coffee roastery. Every coffee they sell is certified organic by the Soil Association and certified carbon negative, with reforestation projects in Colombia, Madagascar, Zambia, and Nepal through a partnership with Swiss nonprofit On A Mission. They pay farmers at least 50% above Fair Trade prices, often double. The roastery has won the UK Barista Championships three times, with victories by Joshua Tarlo in 2018, Paul Ross in 2019, and Paul Ross again in 2020 and now supplies seven London café locations. Sustainability extends to fully compostable pods, recyclable packaging, a Living Wage commitment, and a partnership with bio bean that turns used grounds into biofuels.
