Sironko

About This Coffee

Sironko

The story goes that during a famine centuries ago, the tribes moved east and stumbled across a river which proved their saviour. They named it ‘Sironko’, meaning 'solace' and 'peacefulness' in the Lumasaba language, spoken by the ethnic locals on the slopes of Mount Elgon. The Sironko Washing Station is located in the Budadiri subcounty near the famous river and processes coffee cherries from the surrounding communities, still sustained by this abundant water source.

They provide 'Good Agricultural Practices' (GAP) Training for partner farmers to help improve quality, productivity and yield, as well as agro inputs and seedlings. The Sironko team also operate women and youth empowerment programs; running workshops addressing attitudinal change on resource ownership, acquisition and family participation, as well as creating farmer savings and loans groups to encourage long term economic stability in the community. 

The Process

Selectively hand-picked cherries arrive at Sironko Washing Station where they are subjected to quality and weight tests. Automatic floatation separates the cherries by density into 3 quality grades, with the densest cherries representing the highest quality.

The selected cherries are then mechanically de-pulped, fermented anaerobically, thoroughly washed, and then dried in the sun on raised African beds.