Coffees of Kenya

* Please click here to view images from the coffee farms we work with.

Kenya began serious coffee cultivation in the early 20th century. In the short period since, its coffee has become one of the most sought after in the trade, respected for its exceptional quality. Arabica coffees are grown in several areas of Kenya, from the slopes of Mt. Elgon to the far west bordering Uganda, where the Blue Mountain variety (brought back from Jamaica) is grown. The greatest coffees of Kenya, however, have always come from a small crescent zone just north and northeast of Nairobi, along the gentle slopes of the Aberdare Mountains to the west and along the south-facing slopes of Mt. Kenya to the north. They are grown on tiny farms averaging half an acre in size, dotting the landscape at altitudes ranging from 5,500 to 6,500 feet.

No other groups of small farmers anywhere in the world have come close to producing consistently extraordinary qualities the Kenyans do, year after year. This is due not only to the generous combination of equatorial sunlight, red-orange volcanic loamy soils, unique moderate climate and special varieties of Arabica originating in Kenya and still unique to East Africa (the SL28 being the best), but also to the organization of the farmers into small, craft-oriented, cooperative processing centers. These cooperatives are spread out so that one is always within walking distance of any farmer. Each day's harvest is separately processed into small boutique lots of finished green coffee that are then sold individually at auction in Nairobi. Auctions are the answer to a quality seeker's prayers; unblended lots of extraordinary quality can be found and purchased by relatively small but high-quality buyers willing to pay the price.

All quality coffees are washed, and then carefully sorted. The highest grade is AA, which consists of large, high-density beans, followed by AB, slightly smaller beans. The grade AA is no guarantee of quality; an AA coffee can vary from mediocre to spectacular. AB can also be of very high quality, but, in my experience, never attains the heights an AA can.

Kangunu, Murang'a, Kenya

May 16th~ sold out. Next roast date June 20th.

Awarded 95 Points in the Coffee Review! (Click to read.)

Tasting Notes:
A mouth coating body with sweet, juicy blackberry, crisp acidity and clean finish

The latest farm in our Kenyan offerings is Kangunu, from the Murang'a district.

Murang'a is located northeast of Nairobi. Kangunu was established in 1970 and rests on a 5 acre piece of land serving Kiru, Njumbi and Ngoto villages. The Kangunu Coffee operation is run by Charles Chege with 14 permanent staff and as many as 25 employees during peak harvest season. Kangunu is affiliated with the Kangunu Farmers Co-operative Society. Its membership currently has 1340 are active farmers.

Region: Murang'a
Altitude: 1,700 meters.
Rainfall: Low to moderate+
Arabica variety: Bourbon SL 28 and SL 34
Size: 5 Acres
Roast: Full Flavor

Please Note:
1) Orders need to be placed for our limited roast coffees by 7:00 am Eastern Time on the day they are to be roasted.
2) Orders received will not be shipped until the ROAST DATE indicated per the schedule; and
3) Orders received that include REGULAR COFFEE items in addition to scheduled Monday roast coffees will be shipped on the date that the Monday coffee is roasted to minimize your shipping cost.

Ndiara Estate, Kirinyaga, Kenya

Ndiara Farm burst on the scene in 2008 with a spectacular lot that was saturated with blueberry-blackberry notes. Coffee Review gave it a 96 for that harvest.

This 2009 crop is a more classic Kenya: it is full bodied with very creamy black currant-blackberry notes and a long velvet finish.

Ndiara is a five acre farm in the Kirinyaga district on the southern slope of Mt. Kenya at 5,100 feet. It is named after a pre-historic site nearby. Mr. Daniel Waruri Muriuki started it in 1979 when he acquired the land and planted 6,000 Bourbon SL-28 and SL-34 coffee trees; he later added an additional 500 trees.

Farmer: Daniel Waruri Muriuki
Region: Kirinyaga
Altitude: 5,100 ft.
Rainfall: Low to moderate+
Soil: Volcanic loam
Arabica variety: Bourbon SL 28 and SL 34
Size of Farm: 5 acres coffee
Roast: Full Flavor
Vintage: 2009

QTY

Grand Cru Kenya: Mamuto, Kirinyaga

Next Roasts ~ May 30th and June 6th

Tasting Notes:
A powerhouse of blackberry and black currant. Huge body with notes of blueberry.

When I first encountered Mamuto, I believe it was the best lot auctioned in Kenya that year. (All Kenyan coffee lots were auctioned through 2006; in 2008 the system was "liberalized," permitting direct sales as well as auction coffee) In our first year of roasting this coffee, Mamuto received Coffee Review's first-ever score over 95. Mamuto has scored 96, 97 and 96 Points respectively for crops from 2006, 2007 and 2008. We now have Mamuto's best lot from the most recent harvest. We purchased this lot directly and without hesitation; it was, again, one of the most outstanding lots we tried this past buying season and we have been privileged to always cup the cream of the crop!

Taking inspiration from their family, Mr. Mathagu explained to me, he and his wife named the farm by combining the first two letters from three words: his name, Mathagu, as the father; Muthoni, his wife's maiden name, as mother; and toto, meaning child or children in Swahili: thus Mamuto. Mr. and Mrs. Mathagu have six children - three boys, three girls

Farmer: Walter Paul and Muthoni Mathagu
Region: Kirinyaga
Altitude: 5,000 ft.
Rainfall: Low to moderate+
Soil: Volcanic loam
Arabica variety: Bourbon Sl 28 and SL 34
Size of Farm: 21 acres total; 13 acres of coffee
Roast: Full Flavor

Please click here to view more images of this coffee farm.

Please Note:
1) Orders need to be placed for our limited roast coffees by 7:00 am Eastern Time on the day they are to be roasted.
2) Orders received will not be shipped until the ROAST DATE indicated per the schedule; and
3) Orders received that include REGULAR COFFEE items in addition to scheduled Limited Edition coffees will be shipped on the date that the limited coffee is roasted to minimize your shipping cost.