Chania Coffee Estate
Chania Estate, Kenyan Coffee
Extract Coffee Roasters started working with Boyce Harries in 2014. We've bought his incredible African coffee every year since as one of our limited edition coffees.
We’ve been lucky enough to visit Boyce and his team at Chania Estate in Kenya to research coffee cultivation, harvesting and processing. We have even hosted him for a farmer talk here in the UK at our roastery.
MEET BOYCE HARRIES
Coffee has been in Boyce’s family for three generations; his ancestors established the farm in 1904.
Chania Estate benefits from reliably heavy rainfall and nutrient rich volcanic soils - perfect growing conditions for speciality arabica coffee.
Boyce Harries with Extract's Dave on Chania Estate
Boyce with his sons on a visit to Extract Coffee Roasters
Boyce is passionate about coffee, and about inspiring future generations to pursue careers in coffee.
In his visit to the roastery, he explained that one of the biggest trials the coffee industry in Kenya will face within the next decade will be getting young people interested in coffee and farming.
INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF COFFEE FARMERS
The majority of the workforce at Chania Estate are aged 40+ and have spent their lives growing and processing coffee. Encouraging future generations to take up coffee farming is a necessity, or farms like Boyce’s could face future challenges with resource and skills gaps.
To address this, Boyce and his family have cultivated a real community on the farm, building a ‘Social Hall’ as a designated public space to support younger employees and their families. It serves as a meeting house, recreational room and a nursery for children of the farm workers.
Ripe, freshly picked coffee cherries being sorted ready for processing.
Dan from Extract sniffing coffee blossom on Chania Estate
PROTECTED NATURAL FOREST & WILDLIFE
Chania Estate's employees have also been working the farm for generations. These are skilled workers who understand the careful balance between growing speciality coffee and protecting the natural ecosystem.
The eco-friendly coffee estate maintains over 200 acres of forest that encourage the indigenous wildlife to thrive, contributing to the richness and diversity of the ecosystem here - something we were able to see first hand on our visit.
INNOVATIVE KENYAN COFFEE
We love working with Chania for their innovative approach to coffee farming, be that in different varietals, like French Mission, or championing new processing methods.
Chania was one of the first farms in Kenya to start producing naturally processed coffees. On his visit to the roastery, Boyce explained the thorough research and understanding required before treading into this widely uncharted territory in Kenya.
Ben from Extract with washed coffee drying on African raised beds
Natural-processed coffee drying on raised beds at Chania Estate
What is natural coffee?
Coffees from Chania Estate are processed using both the Washed and Natural processing methods.
In washed coffee, the skin and sticky fruit (mucilage) of the coffee cherry are removed before the coffee is dried. With a naturally processed coffee, these are left intact. As the coffee dries, the mucilage of the cherry ferment, imparting rich fruit flavours into the coffee bean.
Natural coffee processing is not without risk. Over-fermentation can result in entire lots being lost to mould. For farmers with the skill and dedication to getting it right however, these risks are outweighed by the rewards of producing premium and sought-after coffees with complex fruit flavours and lots of acidity.
Buy Coffees From Kenya
We feature coffee from Chania Estate every year as part of our range of limited edition coffees. We love its vibrant fruity notes and tend to brew as a filter coffee or with an aeropress.
Browse our online store to see the latest African coffees, including coffees from Boyce and other Kenyan coffee producers.
SHOP AFRICAN COFFEES NOW
COFFEE FARM FACTS: CHANIA ESTATE
| Farm: | Chania Estate |
| Owners: | Boyce Harries & family |
| Varietals: | French Mission, Riuru 11, K7, SL14, SL28 & Batian |
| Processes: | Washed & Natural |
| Altitude: | 1525m above sea level |
| Region: | Central Province, Thika |
| Country: | Kenya |
| Working with Extract since: | 2014 |