Kainamui is a washing station in the Ngariama region of Kirinyaga County, on the Slopes of Mt Kenya at 1650 MASL. This Kenyan blend combines SL-28, SL-34, Ruiru 11 and Batian cherries harvested from October–December 2025. Processing includes depulping, washing, and fermentation steps, followed by drying on beds for 10–15 days. Tasting notes include blackberry juice, black currant, raspberry and orange.
Rebecca Grossman and Lucas Smith founded Ilse in 2019, starting with a thousand dollars and a rented roaster in Stamford before building out their own facility in a converted mechanic's garage in North Canaan. The approach is quality-driven: light roasts, single-producer microlots, and a commitment to buying entire harvests from the same farms year after year, some relationships now stretch back to the beginning. Pricing is transparent; each bag lists what the producer was paid, the FOB price, and Ilse's cost. Sourcing focuses on Central and South America and East Africa, with Costa Rica, Honduras, Colombia, and Ethiopia appearing regularly.
