Kenya offers some of the most intensely flavored and strongly acidic coffees in the world. The flavors vary subtly from region to region, but most feature complex notes of fruit and berries, citrus acidity, and juicy, rich textures.
Only about 330 farms in Kenya are properties of 15 hectares or more. Just over half of coffee producers are small landowners, with only a few hectares of land each. These small owners are grouped in factories belonging to cooperative societies, each factory receiving the coffee harvest from hundreds to several thousand producers.
Kenya grows Arabica, especially the SL, K7 and Ruiru varieties. Most coffee beans are washed for export. Usually smaller coffee beans are naturally processed and consumed in Kenya. Once processed, most coffee beans are traded through a weekly auction system, where exporters bid on samples they tested the previous week. Although this method is still sensitive to fluctuations in the commodity market, auction prices reward the best quality coffee and thus provide incentives for producers to improve their farming practices and coffee quality.
KENYA KEY FACTS
PERCENTAGE OF THE WORLD MARKET 0.52%
HARVEST Main crop: October-December; Small harvest April-June
PROCESSES Washed, Natural
MAIN TYPES Arabica SL 28, SL 34, K7, Ruiru 11, Batian
WORLD RANKING AS A MANUFACTURER on the 18th place
Kenya Marsabit Coffee
Marsabit does not grow enough coffee to export, but it is the only area in Kenya where wild Rubiaceae have been found. Studying and preserving the genetic background of coffee from these forests will benefit coffee around the world.
Kenya Meru Coffee
In the eastern hills of Mount Kenya, Mem has rich organic soils and moderate rainfall that support the growth of K7 and SL varieties.
Coffee Kenya Kirinyaga
On the slopes of Mount Kenya, the altitudes and the twice-yearly rainy season in Kirinyaga are perfect for very good quality coffee. The most common varieties here are SL 28 and SL 34.
Cafea Kenya Embu
With deep, red volcanic soils and two distinct rainy seasons, Embu is dominated by factories and societies that cultivate a mix of varieties.
Cafea Kenya Nyeri
Dominated by factories and cooperative societies and noted for their low rainfall, the areas around Nyeri are famous for their high-quality coffee, mostly of SL varieties.
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