October 25, 2024 4 min read

Kenya is known to produce high-quality coffees with a wide variety of flavors. Around 70% of the country’s coffee is produced on small farms, ensuring a concentrated degree of quality. The coffee industry provides around 6 million jobs, making it a vital part of the country’s economy. 

But we at Mystic Monk Coffee are here to talk about even more than that. In the profile below, we discuss the history and production of Kenyan coffee, as well as its flavor profile and the country’s most recognized brands. Read on, and you’ll learn all you need to know about Kenya’s incredible coffee. 

History of Coffee in Kenya

There are varying opinions regarding when coffee was first introduced to Kenya. While it is close to Ethiopia, the origin of all coffee plants, some accounts say that it was not introduced as a crop until 1893 by French Catholic missionaries. 

Other sources state that coffee was first commercially cultivated in the early 1900s by a British settler named George Williamson, a small landowner whose farm helped foster the growth of the Kenyan coffee industry. 

By 1933, the Coffee Act had been passed, shifting coffee auctions from London to Kenya, restoring the industry to the country and its people. The act also established the Kenyan Coffee Board, giving the country’s government power to grow and sell the product. 

Further reforms helped form smallholder farms, leading to the current state of the industry today. Coffee is now Kenya’s main foreign exchange earner and the 20th largest coffee producer in the world.

Coffee Growing Regions

Kenya's primary coffee-growing regions are the high plateaus around Mount Kenya, including the Aberdare Range, Kisii, Nyanza, Bungoma, Nakuru, Kericho, Nandi, Mount Elgon, and the Machakos and Taita hills, though at smaller scales.

The regions closest to Mount Kenya and Elgon benefit from high altitudes, volcanic soil, and a favorable climate. Other areas also enjoy relatively high altitudes, fertile soil conditions, and favorable climates for growing coffee, though not at the highest grades that the country has to offer. 

Varieties of Coffee Beans

As for the particular variety of Kenyan Coffee, the main type grown is Arabica, with several more specific varietals, including: 

  • K7
  • SL28
  • SL34
  • Ruiru 11
  • Batian

These different varieties are all known to produce high yields of excellent-quality beans with delicious flavor profiles. Another unique quality of Kenyan coffee is the country’s grading system, which is determined based on the size, shape, color, and density of the beans. 

These grades, from lowest to highest quality, are labeled as Kenya MH/ML, Kenya T, Kenya TT, Kenya C, Kenya E, Kenya PB, Kenya AB, and Kenya AA. Most Kenyan coffee blends may include beans from the TT to PB grades, while the top brands will offer beans in the AB and AA grades. 

Cultivation and Harvesting Practices

As their thorough grading system suggests, Kenyan coffee farmers are strongly observant of how they cultivate their coffees. The small-scale farmers harvest and sort their coffee cherries by hand, selecting the ripest fruits from the trees. 

Processing Methods

Kenyan coffee growers then perform a washed processing method, washing the beans in water and leaving them to ferment until the pulp is easily removed. They depulp the beans and soak them more, as they are still covered in a thin layer of material called parchment. After the parchment softens, the growers wash the beans again. 

The coffee beans are then dried in the sun to remove any excess moisture. Once dried properly, they are safely stored until they are delivered to market. 

Flavor Profile and Tasting Notes

Now, let’s talk about the delicious flavors of Kenyan coffee. Generally, enthusiasts of the region’s coffee note its intense flavor, full body, and incredible aroma. Among the most significant notes from its scent include the smell of cocoa. 

Other flavors it typically includes are citrus, blackcurrant, berries, and floral undertones, along with the same qualities of winey, bright acidity. It’s also known to have a considerably sweet aftertaste, similar to that of the best Jamaican coffee beans. The very best Kenyan coffee beans often consistently provide a high-quality and enjoyable drinking experience, which we recommend.

Famous Coffee Brands and Cooperatives

Notable Kenyan coffee brands include Java House Coffee, Dorman’s Coffee, Artcaffe, and Spring Valley Coffee. These brands are well-recognized as local staples in Nairobi and coffee shops across Kenya. They retain a strong commitment to quality and sustainable practices. 

Kenya’s coffee industry has several cooperatives, such as the Baragawi Farmers, Gikanda FCS, Othaya Coffee, Barichu, and Kenya Cooperative Coffee Exporters (KCCE). These organizations support local farmers by providing crucial resources that help improve farming practices and harvest yields, promoting fair trade practices, and maintaining high industry standards.

Challenges and Sustainability Efforts

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing the Kenyan coffee industry. The country’s coffee farmers mostly rely on rainfall to water their crops, yet its climate has increasingly varied, making it difficult to know when farmers can cultivate their crops.

Significant efforts are being made toward sustainability and innovation to address these issues. Initiatives that farmers and central organizations of the coffee industry promote include training in organic farming, developing disease-resistant coffee varieties, and implementing fair trade practices, all so Kenyan coffee farmers can prepare for the inevitable changes in their industry. These efforts aim to secure a sustainable future for Kenyan coffee.

Conclusion

Kenyan coffee can be some of the best-produced in the world, full of delicious flavors and textures that one can hardly find anywhere else. The country’s coffee industry also includes some of the most hard-working people in the world, tirelessly developing ways to combat climate change and maintain their crops for future generations. With every sip, you’ll now know what goes into the delectable taste of your Kenyan cup of joe. 

Additionally, you can also find other amazing blends and roasts at Mystic Monk Coffee. We have a selection of silky and savory coffees for you to enjoy, both in grounds or beans—whatever you choose! Taste a cup made from our artisan coffee-crafters today!