Kenya - Chania - Mixed var - AB - FW

Chania Estate has been managed by the Harries family for several generations. The estate, named after a nearby river, stands as a cornerstone of the family’s coffee-growing heritage. Some coffee trees were already present before the family acquired the land, but production gradually expanded to become the estate’s main activity. Today, Chania is recognized for the diversity of its varieties.

The estate cultivates French Mission (MF), a variety known for its large trees, high yield, and sizable beans. It also grows SL varieties (SL28 and SL34), two of the renowned cultivars developed by the Scott Agricultural Laboratories in Kenya. While these varieties produce high-quality beans, they are susceptible to disease. To address this, the estate introduced Batian, a disease-resistant alternative offering comparable cup quality. This newer variety was specifically selected for its resistance to Coffee Berry Disease (CBD) and leaf rust. Another cultivated variety, Ruiru 11, is valued for its high yield, resilience, and adaptability to high-density planting systems.

More recently, the farm has started experimenting with Panama and Gesha varieties, still in development, as well as K7, appreciated for its resistance to leaf rust.

Chania Estate also integrates sustainable practices into its agricultural approach. Once widely planted, macadamia trees are gradually being replaced by more coffee trees. The estate is also reducing pesticide use in favor of more organic farming techniques. Livestock farming, particularly cattle, contributes to sustainability by providing milk for workers and manure for natural fertilization. Today, it is one of the last two remaining medium-sized coffee farms in Kenya.

The farms employ about 40 full-time workers, but during harvest season, up to 300 people are needed for coffee picking and processing. A kindergarten has also been established on the farm to care for workers’ children.

The coffee harvest is done entirely by hand, and all coffees are processed on site. Most are washed coffees, but Boyce also produces natural, honey, and single-variety microlots. 

The Harries family has been living in Kenya, in the town of Thika (Central Province), since 1904. Boyce, a dedicated coffee farmer in Kenya, manages two family-owned estate farms: Chania and Oreti. These farms have a rich history, dating back to the family's settlement in South Africa in 1901 before relocating to Kenya. In 1926, Boyce's great-grandfather purchased the land, recognizing its water availability as a crucial factor for successful farming. Since then, the estates have evolved into well-established coffee farms, focusing on high-quality production and sustainable practices.

These two farms are the last remaining medium-sized farms in Kenya and are currently owned by Boyce Harries, who belongs to the family’s 5th generation of coffee producers. 

The Harries family grows varieties that are quite unusual for Kenya, including SL14 and Red Bourbon. It is the last to still produce the SL14 variety, which was the first SL14 to be cultivated in Kenya. SL14 is particularly weak, so it has been gradually replaced in Kenya with the SL28 and SL34 varieties, which are more climate hardy and produce higher yields.

Belco first got to know the Harries family a few years ago. They were so well-organised and knowledgeable of the industry that we were able to begin working together in 2017, buying coffee from them directly for the very first time. Which is a great advantage, because there are usually up to 7 intermediaries separating a producer from the final buyer!