Kenya Washed AA Grade Kirinyaga Kabare Thungaga Factory Premium Coffee Bean Grind Roast

Country: Kenya

Grade: AA

Region: Kirinyaga

Altitude: 1550-1750 meters

Soil: red phosphorus soil

Processing Method: Kenyan double-washed processing

Varieties: SL 28, SL 34

Processing Station: Kongyu Factory

Producer: Kabare Cooperative Society

Flavor Notes: grapefruit green tea, citrus, raspberry black plum

Kenyan Coffee Heritage

Kenya, located in East Africa, is one of the world's major coffee-producing countries, with approximately six million people engaged in the coffee industry, primarily through small farms and cooperatives.

Kenyan coffee trees are grown predominantly at altitudes between 1400-2000 meters, in growing regions that include Ruiri, Thika, Kirinyaga, Mt. Kenya West, Nyeri, Kiambu, and Muranga, mainly concentrated on the foothills of Mt. Kenya and the Aberdare range.

Many of Kenya's growing regions strive to preserve native forest ecosystems, protecting natural gene banks and supporting the propagation of wild coffee varieties, nurturing diverse coffee trees.

The Legacy of SL Varieties

In 1930, Kenya's unique varieties SL28 and SL34, cultivated and named by "Scott Laboratories," were born in this favorable environment.

According to SL Laboratory botanists, SL28 and SL34 are genetic variants. SL28 possesses mixed lineage from French Mission, Mocha, and Yemeni Typica. The original goal in developing SL28 was to produce large quantities of beans combining high quality with resistance to pests and diseases.

Although SL28's later yields did not meet the massive expectations, its copper-colored leaves and broad, bean-shaped seeds offer wonderful sweetness, balance, and complex, varied flavors, along with distinctive citrus and black plum characteristics. SL34 shares similar flavors with SL28 but, in addition to its complex, varied acidity and wonderful sweet finish, has a heavier, richer body and a cleaner mouthfeel than SL28. SL34 possesses French Mission, Bourbon, and more Typica lineage. Its bean appearance is similar to SL28, but it adapts better to sudden heavy rainfall. It is these two important varieties that guide us to understand the unique Kenyan style: strong, rich fruit acidity, full body, and beautiful balance.

Flavor Profile

Strong lemon and plum aromas appear in both the dry and wet fragrance. When light-roasted and sipped, the coffee reveals astonishing floral and lemon aromas, along with the sweet, juicy flavors of grapefruit green tea and citrus juice. With a slightly darker roast, honey and raspberry black plum flavors emerge, while the aftertaste presents the pleasant sweet-and-sour taste of green tea.

Origin and Processing

This Kenyan coffee comes from the Kongyu Factory of the Kabare Cooperative Society in Kenya's Kirinyaga region, processed using the Kenyan double-washed method. It is grown on the eastern slopes of Kenya's mountains in Manyatta-Embu County at altitudes of 1550-1750 meters, and the varieties are the classic Kenyan SL28 and SL34. Combined with the significant day-night temperature difference and Kenya's red phosphorus soil, sweet and sour notes become the main flavor profile of this coffee.

The fresh coffee cherries for this batch of Kongyu AA are harvested and processed by 250 farmers from the Kongyu Factory under the Kabare Farmers' Cooperative Society. After being pulped, fermented, and washed with water from the nearby Kongyu River, the coffee is placed on African drying beds. Each harvest season, the farmers process nearly 300 tons of fresh coffee cherries. Once processing is complete, the coffee participates in the weekly coffee auction held every Wednesday in Nairobi. Once selected by licensed exporters, it is shipped to consumer markets worldwide.

A Unique Character

With every previous Kenyan coffee, we particularly enjoyed pursuing those angular, powerful fruit acids. This particular Kenyan coffee, however, made me feel gentleness, like facing the sea with a gentle breeze blowing.

Manufacturer: FrontStreet Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee)

Shelf Life: 90 days

Net Weight: 227g

Packaging: bulk coffee beans

Roast Level: roasted coffee beans

Sugar Content: sugar-free

Origin: Kenya

Coffee Type: other

Roast Degree: light roast

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

For the bright, complex fruit acidity Kenya is famous for, FrontStreet Coffee recommends its Kenya Little Tomato, a washed bean from the Thika region grown at 1550-1750 meters from the classic SL28 and SL34 varieties. It shows cherry-tomato, black plum, and pear notes with a juicy body and a clean, sweet finish. It is an excellent choice for anyone who loves vivid, layered fruit in a pour-over.