Tatu Coffee Estates Limited has won first and third place in the highly competitive Washed Arabica category at the National Taste of Harvest Kenya 2025–2026 Awards, cementing its position among Kenya’s leading coffee producers.

The annual awards are regarded as the country’s most prestigious coffee quality competition, attracting top estates and factories.

The Washed Arabica category is considered the toughest, given Kenya’s global reputation for premium specialty coffee.

The recognition places Tatu Coffee among producers delivering world-class quality at commercial scale, a rare achievement in the sector.

“Winning first and third place confirms that our approach to farming and processing delivers consistent, internationally competitive results,” said Mr John Sathya, Chief Executive Officer of Tatu Coffee Estates Limited.

“This recognition validates our teams’ work and our commitment to producing world-class Kenyan coffee while creating meaningful impact for our people and communities.”

Consistent quality, not experimental batches
Notably, the award-winning coffees were drawn from Tatu Coffee’s regular production, rather than small experimental lots.

Judges praised the coffees for floral and fruity notes, including orange blossom, red berries and marmalade, alongside bright acidity, balance and sweetness.

Tatu Coffee owns more than 6,500 acres of coffee estates in Kiambu County.

The company is owned by Rendeavour, the developer of Tatu City, Kenya’s first operational Special Economic Zone.

The estate-based model allows Tatu Coffee to maintain full control over quality, while producing volumes suitable for global specialty markets in Europe, the United States, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.

Jobs, sustainability and rural impact
Beyond quality recognition, the awards also highlight Tatu Coffee’s role in supporting employment and sustainability in Kenya’s coffee-growing regions.

The estates provide thousands of permanent and seasonal jobs, offering income at a time when national coffee production has faced a long-term decline.

All Tatu Coffee estates are Rainforest Alliance certified, with operations focused on environmental conservation, water recycling, reforestation and responsible waste management.

The company also supports worker welfare through fair wages, housing, access to education and a long-running school meals programme for children from estate communities.

Tatu Coffee focuses exclusively on specialty coffee, supplying premium washed Arabica to buyers who value origin-driven quality rather than commodity coffee.