Kenyan Coffee Brewing Methods | Kenyan Coffee Grading System | Kenyan Coffee Characteristics

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Kenya's Premium Coffee Industry

Kenya's premium coffee industry differs from the norm, primarily operating through a combination of small farmers, wet processing mills, and cooperatives. Farmers deliver harvested coffee cherries to nearby processing mills or cooperatives in the shortest possible time. Meanwhile, cooperatives regularly send personnel to guide local farmers, ensuring that every producer maintains professional cultivation techniques to preserve coffee quality.

Kenyan coffee is a giant in the coffee market and a model of excellence. The Kenyan Coffee Board's research, development, and quality management are meticulous. The Kenyan Coffee Board controls the taste buds of many coffee enthusiasts, with traders interested only in quality beans. Premium coffee grows along Kenya's high mountain slopes at altitudes between 4,200 and 6,800 feet, and the finest coffee comes from small coffee estates.

Located in East Africa near the equator, Kenya cultivates high-quality Arabica coffee beans. The coffee beans are thick and round, with grades divided into seven levels based on bean size, while flavor is categorized into six grade specifications. In taste recommendations, "Kenya AA" receives high praise and recognition for its slightly acidic and rich aroma, making it particularly popular among Europeans, especially in the UK where Kenyan coffee surpasses Costa Rican coffee to become one of the most popular varieties.

Kenya's green coffee grading system was established by the government to manage quality and guide coffee farmers. Based on standards of particle size, weight, and shape appearance, it's divided into: AA, AB, PB, C, TT, T, E, MH, ML, where AA and PB are specialty coffee beans with low defect rates and distinctive flavors.

AA TOP

Full, plump particles. Enchanting aroma, presenting citrus-like fruit notes upon entry. Rich chocolate sensation and sweet aftertaste during tasting, creating a uniquely flavored top-tier Kenyan coffee. Selected according to the green bean grading system, AA TOP accounts for approximately 10% of total production.

PB

Known in English as Peaberry (round bean), distinguished by appearance as an elliptical single coffee bean. Upon entry, it possesses citrus aroma, rich chocolate flavor, and sweet aftertaste, making it the most versatile coffee bean for roasting. PB accounts for only 5% of total production.

Kenya's Coffee Grade Classification

E - Refers to "elephant," but not to the elephant bean variety in terms of breed. Generally, one fruit contains two seeds facing each other, so one side is flat, called flat beans, female beans, or twin beans. E occurs when two seeds fuse together during growth, becoming oversized beans. Rare quantity, naturally occurring mutation.

AA - Screen mesh holes are approximately 7.20mm, this grade commands better prices.

AB - A's filter hole size is 6.80mm, B's is 6.20mm, 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, mostly known as small round beans, or male beans, single-petal beans in Taiwan, relative to ordinary flat beans. Very rare because only one seed develops completely inside the fruit, resulting in small, round beans. No consensus on flavor impact; some people particularly like it, so PB is selected and sold separately.

C - Hole size between 4.8–5.6mm, considered small particle beans.

TT - Usually defective beans that fall into this grade. Sad.

T - By this grade, usually only fragments, defective beans, and small particle beans below 4.8mm remain.

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

Commonly seen AA+, AA++, AA Top, AB+ are traders' own classifications, not part of Kenya's official system. Different traders have different definitions, so use as reference only.

FrontStreet Coffee also has Kenya AA beans, Kenya Asali and Karogoto are both Kenya AA. Recommended pour-over parameters are 90-92°C, with a powder-to-water ratio of 1:15, and brewing time of two minutes and twenty seconds. Upon entry, it presents bright cherry tomato acidity and honey-like sweetness.

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

Important Notice :

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