Kenya Gakuyuini is a washed coffee from smallholder farmers in the Ngariama region of Kirinyaga, Kenya, grown at 1500-1600 meters altitude. The lot features SL28 and SL34 varieties, which are renowned for Kenya's classic flavor profile. The cup profile highlights bright red fruits with a complex maple syrupy sweetness, featuring notes of red currant, rhubarb, and maple.
Bow Smith, Holden Curran, and Jessi Lee Cord launched Rowan Coffee in October 2020 as a mobile espresso operation in Asheville, North Carolina, growing quickly into a permanent home. Bow brings nearly a decade of barista, roasting, and management experience, and began roasting in house in January 2023 on a 15 kilo Mill City Roasters machine. Rowan centers mainly on washed process coffees, prizing clarity and complexity, with green beans sourced from specialty importers including Semilla, Osito, Red Fox Coffee Merchants, and The Coffee Quest. Everything is roasted to order on Tuesdays and shipped the following day. The approach is deliberate and seasonal, letting each coffee speak to where and how it was grown.
