From bush to cup: the Kiambu coffee tour

Kenya is world famous for its coffee and on this tour, you’ll learn how it’s produced, from bush to cup, and enjoy a tasting session. The trip takes place at the Fairview Estate, which lies around half an hour from central Nairobi. Fairview has been producing some of the country’s best coffee since 1909 thanks to its location in Kiambu, the heart of the fertile central highlands, which is fed by the Riara River.

The tour lasts around two hours and begins in the 100-acre plantation, which is set along the river among beautiful gardens with a waterfall nearby. During peak season, up to 400 workers will be busy pruning, harvesting and sorting the coffee beans. You’ll walk among the coffee bushes, whose berries turn red when they’re ready for harvesting, then see how they’re dried, roasted and ground into powder. You can even have a go at the roasting if you like.

Along the way, an expert guide from the estate will explain the entire coffee-making process and answer any questions you might have. My favourite part is the coffee tasting at the end. A barista will talk you through around five different grades of coffee and explain which factors affect the flavours. There are light, medium and dark varieties depending on how long the coffee has been roasted for.

I’d recommend this tour, especially if you’re a coffee lover, because it’s educational, fun and allows you to get a glimpse of real Kenyan culture and the countryside. Ironically, coffee isn’t popular among Kenyans, so a lot of the product is exported and not readily available to drink here. There’s a chance to buy your favourite coffee directly from the Fairview shop though, it makes the perfect souvenir of your trip to Kenya.