Kenya AA Oaklands Estate

The Region

Situated in the highlands of Kiambu north of Nairobi, Oaklands farm is located in Juja sub-county. The region has a long history of coffee production and is famous for its large estates, which were originally established by British colonists in the early 20th century.

After decolonisation the estates were sold to local Kenyans who have been managing them since. While estates such as this used to produce the majority of Kenyan coffee, the increased urban sprawl from Nairobi, as well as the increasing land value in the region has meant that estate coffee production has gradually diminished, while smallholder production elsewhere has increased. Nevertheless, estates such as these continue a legacy of many generations of coffee production, supported by unparalleled local knowledge and experience.

Kiambu has all the ingredients for arabica coffee to flourish: it is close to the equator, has iron rich, semi-volcanic soils, abundant sunshine and consistently high altitudes up to 2,000masl. The cool night time temperatures in these fertile highlands allows cherries to mature slowly, developing the acidity and complexity in the final cup.

Tatu Coffee Estate blends heritage and innovation, standing on historically significant land while applying modern, regenerative farming techniques. The estate maintains strict traceability from block to processing, strong cultural and historical identity tied to the land, regenerative and community-centered farming philosophy and reliable supply relationships and transparent communication. Slow cherry maturation at high altitude, rich volcanic soils, and sustainable agronomy combine to produce dense and complex Kenya Arabica coffee.