Privam Kenya

About the Coffee

Rita and Patrick Mukundi run Privam Estate as a family operation on the slopes of Mount Kenya in Embu. They use a polyculture system, planting macadamia trees alongside SL-28, SL-34, and Batian coffee varieties - the heavy macadamia foliage provides shade that helps the coffee develop its bright, fruity character.

This is Pilot's third year working directly with the Mukundis, who've consistently delivered coffee with the classic Kenyan fruitiness and lingering finish that makes this origin stand out.

The coffee shines as drip with clementine and lime zest notes, or as espresso with candied orange and nectarine flavors - testament to how thoughtful farming practices translate directly to the cup.

About Pilot

Andy Wilkin and Jessie Holmes started Pilot in 2009 as Te Aro Roasted in a converted car garage in Toronto's Leslieville, inspired by the cafes Andy knew from his hometown in Wellington, New Zealand. What began as a micro-roastery helping new cafe owners with equipment and training grew into a specialty coffee hub as Toronto's coffee scene emerged. By 2013, they rebranded to Pilot Coffee Roasters and now operate cafes across Toronto, Oakville, and Waterloo with wholesale partners coast to coast. Their direct trade approach focuses on long-term producer relationships built on quality, transparency, environmental responsibility, and fair wages - prioritizing partnership over transaction.

"I first visited Te Aro in 2012 - my friends on the east end of Toronto raved about the coffee, and it didn't disappoint. Later in my career, a trip to a Pilot cafe downtown had become a daily staple for me, and so it seems inevitable to include them in Stillwater's Coffee Club experience." 

- Dean, Director of Coffee