Malaki Estate - Florence and Jessica Marigi - Washed Kenya - Kenya
Malaki Estate - Florence and Jessica Marigi - Washed Kenya - Kenya
Couldn't load pickup availability
Ships directly from Moonwake Coffee Roasters, roasted fresh every Tuesday and shipped Wednesday. US delivery is typically 2–6 business days. Orders with coffees from more than one roaster arrive as separate boxes. Shipping & freshness →
?
Tasting Notes
Specific flavors and aromas the roaster (or our team) noticed when cupping this coffee. They describe the brewed cup, not flavorings added to the beans.
Read more in the glossary →-
Roast Level
?
Roast Level
How dark the beans are roasted, on a 'specialty' scale where Light/Ultralight preserves the most origin character.
Read more in the glossary → - Specialty Light/Ultralight
-
Flavor Profile
?
Flavor Profile
High-level flavor families this coffee leans toward — fruity, floral, sweet, chocolate/nutty, spicy, tea/botanical, or fermented/wine-like.
Read more in the glossary → - Fruity, Tea/Botanical
-
Origin Type
?
Coffee Type
Whether a coffee is a single origin (from one farm, region, or country) or a blend (multiple origins combined).
Read more in the glossary → - Single Origin
-
Flavor Notes
?
Flavor Notes (SCA)
More specific flavor families inside the broader profile, using the SCA Coffee Taster's Flavor Wheel — e.g. 'Citrus' and 'Berry' inside 'Fruity'.
Read more in the glossary → - Citrus, Berry, Other Fruit, Tea
-
Caffeine
?
Caffeine
Whether this coffee is caffeinated or decaffeinated, and (for decaf) which process was used.
Read more in the glossary → - Caffeinated
-
Country of Origin
?
Country of Origin
Where in the world this coffee was grown, or 'Multiple' for a blend with beans from more than one country.
Read more in the glossary → - Kenya
-
Process Type
?
Processing
How the coffee cherry was prepared after picking — dried with or without its fruit, fermented under specific conditions, etc. Big effect on the final cup.
Read more in the glossary → - Washed
Whole Bean
Roast: Light
Recommended Rest: 4-6 weeks from roast date
Tasting Notes: clementine, goji berry, cantaloupe, rooibos tea
Origin Details
Region: Kiambu, Kenya
Elevation: 1900m
Producer: Florence and Jessica Marigi, Malaki Estate
Process: Washed
Variety: SL-28, SL-34
ABOUT THIS COFFEE AND PRODUCER
Malaki Estate is a historic family-owned coffee farm located in Githunguri, Kiambu County, on the fertile western slopes of Kenya’s Aberdare Range. Established in 1959 by Edward Marigi and now managed by his wife, Florence Mukuhi Marigi, and their daughter Jessica, the estate stands out as one of the few remaining farms dedicated exclusively to traditional Kenyan coffee varieties. Situated at over 1,900 meters above sea level, Malaki benefits from rich red volcanic soils, abundant annual rainfall of approximately 1,500 mm, and cool temperatures ranging between 13°C and 24°C,creating ideal conditions for producing exceptional specialty coffee. Alongside coffee, the family maintains small-scale dairy, macadamia, and avocado production, reflecting a diversified and sustainable farming approach.
The estate cultivates SL28 and SL34 varieties. The region experiences two harvest seasons each year, with an early crop harvested between April andJune and a second harvest from October to December. This bimodal production cycle allows careful attention to cherry selection and harvesting,ensuring that only fully ripe cherries enter the processing system.
Following harvest, the coffee is processed using the traditional washed method. Cherries are pulped and fermented for 36 to 48 hours, depending on climatic conditions, before being thoroughly washed and transferred to raised drying beds. The parchment coffee is dried slowly over approximately 14 days, during which it is regularly turned to promote even moisture distribution and carefully hand-sorted to remove defects.
Today, Malaki Estate represents a unique combination of heritage, family stewardship, and commitment to quality. Guided by Florence and Jessica, with support from other family members, the farm continues to build on decades of coffee-growing tradition while focusing on producing coffees that express the exceptional terroir of the Aberdare region.
WHY WE SELECTED THIS COFFEE
Pure SL-28 and SL-34 lots have become increasingly difficult to find in Kenya, so we were excited to learn about Malaki Estate and their approach to preserving traditional Kenyan varieties while maintaining a strong focus on quality.
This lot offers a clear expression of the qualities we look for in Kenyan coffees. The first sip brings refined, sweet clementine alongside a distinct red goji berry character with lots of lovely bright acidity.
As it develops, the acidity gives way to a round cantaloupe-like sweetness that becomes more prominent through the back half of the palate. The finish settles into a gentle rooibos tea character, adding a soft, herbal quality to the lingering sweetness.
It's a particularly clear and approachable expression of SL-28 and SL-34, and a nice opportunity to taste these classic Kenyan varieties on their own.
