Kenya Coffee Flavor Profiles, Kenya AA Coffee Characteristics, Kenya Coffee Classification System

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Kenya: Premium Coffee Production Nation

Kenya is a country renowned for producing excellent coffee. In 1900, tree species were introduced from Britain, featuring only traditional Arabica varieties. It wasn't until 1950 that SL28 and SL34 Bourbon varieties - now considered Kenya's finest - emerged. Most coffee beans are graded and inspected by the Kenya Coffee Board before being sold at auctions. The public auction system dates back to before 1934.

The auction process operates through an agent system. Kenya has 50 licensed agents who send sample beans to their respective clients for cupping. Clients can then bid on their preferred coffees through these agents at auction. However, this approach seems to encourage middlemen while eroding farmers' incomes. Consequently, in 2006, Kenya opened up to allow 32 independent sales agents to deal directly with foreign coffee buyers without going through auctions, provided they meet Kenya Coffee Board standards for quality, storage, and bank guarantees. Both systems operate in parallel, and after years of development, this has become the most transparent auction distribution system, where better-quality coffees can command higher prices through cupping, encouraging more cooperatives and farms to participate.

Kenyan Coffee Grading System

Grading follows the AA PLUS, AA, AB system, but this only refers to bean size and uniformity, not quality differences. Premium altitudes range from 1,600 to 2,300 meters. From 2009-2010, due to global warming and disease effects, reduced production caused prices to rise significantly. Kenya's coffee is irreplaceable for its strong blackberry acidity, keeping premium Kenyan beans at high prices. There are two harvest seasons annually: April-June is the secondary season, while October-December is the main harvest season.

Kenyan Coffee Grade Classifications

E - Refers to "elephant" beans, but not the elephant bean variety. Typically, one coffee fruit contains two seeds facing each other, creating one flat side - called flat beans, female beans, or twin beans. E-grade beans occur when two seeds fuse together during growth, becoming extra-large beans. They are rare, representing a natural mutation.

AA - Screen mesh holes are approximately 7.20 millimeters. This grade commands better prices.

AB - A-grade mesh size is 6.80 millimeters, while B-grade is 6.20 millimeters. These two are mixed together for sale, hence called AB. Most coffee beans from a single harvest concentrate in this grade.

PB - Called "Peaberry" in English, often referred to as small round beans, male beans, or single-seed beans in Taiwan, as opposed to regular flat beans. They are rare because only one seed develops fully inside the fruit, resulting in small, round beans. The impact on flavor remains debated - some people particularly favor them, so PB beans are often separated and sold specifically.

C - Mesh size between 4.8-5.6 millimeters, considered small-particle beans.

TT - Usually damaged beans fall into this grade. Such a pity.

T - At this grade, typically only fragments, defective beans, and small particles under 4.8 millimeters remain.

MH/ML - Overripe beans that fell on the ground or beans of very poor quality, not exported.

Commonly seen AA+, AA++, AA Top, AB+ are trade classifications, not part of Kenya's official system. Different traders have different definitions, so these are仅供参考 (for reference only).

FrontStreet Coffee also offers Kenya AA beans, including Kenya Asali and Karogoto varieties, both Kenya AA grade. Recommended pour-over parameters are 90-92°C water temperature, 1:15 coffee-to-water ratio, and 2 minutes 20 seconds brewing time. The entry offers bright cherry tomato acidity with honey-like sweetness.

FrontStreet Coffee: A roastery in Guangzhou with a small shop but diverse bean varieties, where you can find both famous and lesser-known beans, while also providing online store services. https://shop104210103.taobao.com

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473