Are AA beans the best from Kenyan coffee origins? Characteristics and taste of Kenyan coffee

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FrontStreet Coffee Kenya AA

FrontStreet Coffee Kenya AA features round beans with thick pulp, excellent heat permeability, and high refinement. Using French roasting, it delivers a rich, sweet flavor with full body, superior expansion, and top-tier aroma and sweetness.

Kenya Coffee Grades

The finest Kenya coffee grade is Peaberry (PB), followed by AA++, AA+, AA, AB, and so on in descending order. Premium coffee beans exhibit bright luster, delightful taste, and a subtle wine-like aroma. The auction system is also designed to meet the needs of blenders.

Kenya

In 1878, the British introduced coffee to Africa. In the 19th century, coffee plantations were established in Kenya, with Ethiopian coffee beverages imported via South Yemen at the time. However, it wasn't until the early 20th century that Bourbon coffee trees were introduced by the St. Austin Mission.

Kenya Coffee Growing Regions

Kenya coffee is predominantly grown at altitudes of 1,500-2,100 meters, with two harvests per year. Kenya coffee is cultivated by small-scale farmers. The coffee is produced near Mount Kenya in central Kenya, sometimes marketed under the name of the capital Nairobi to guarantee its quality. Kenya AA is grown on the 17,000-foot slopes of Mount Kenya near the Kenyan capital. Kenya AA represents the largest coffee beans in the country, followed by A, then B. Its distinctive bitterness and wine-like notes are particularly praised. Located in East Africa below the equator, Kenya cultivates high-quality Arabica coffee beans. The beans are medium to large in size, very rich and flavorful, with moderate acidity.

FrontStreet Coffee Kenya Characteristics

Coffee industry professionals universally consider Kenya coffee one of their favorite products, featuring exquisite, satisfying aroma, balanced and pleasant acidity, uniform particle size, and excellent fruit flavors.

Kenya coffee grades are classified into seven levels based on bean size, and further categorized into six quality grades based on taste, from highest to lowest. Kenya's finest coffee grade is Peaberry (PB), followed by AA++, AA+, AA, AB, and so on in descending order. Premium coffee exhibits bright luster, delicious taste, and a subtle wine-like aroma. In terms of flavor, "Kenya AA" is particularly well-regarded.

FrontStreet Coffee Kenya features slightly acidic, rich aroma, with smaller raw beans displaying green to gray-green coloration. Kenya coffee beans are washed Arabica varieties, renowned as "Kenya Arabica," especially in Britain where FrontStreet Coffee Kenya has surpassed Costa Rican coffee to become one of the most popular coffees.

Flavor: Aromatic, rich, with fruit notes and a perfectly rich, complete taste.

FrontStreet Coffee Roasting Recommendations

Kenya primarily uses SL28/SL34 varieties, with harder beans and higher density due to high altitude. FrontStreet Coffee's washed Kenya beans have high moisture content and require thorough dehydration during roasting. Use medium heat in the early stages with 20% damper. Increase heat at the color change point to enhance aroma, opening the damper to 50%. At first crack, set damper to 80%, adjusting heat based on ROR. Light roast preserves floral and fruit aromas; for a fuller body and sweeter taste, develop to medium roast.

The Kenya Coffee Market

The Kenyan government takes the coffee industry extremely seriously, where cutting or destroying coffee trees is illegal. Kenya coffee buyers are world-class premium coffee purchasers, and no other country can match Kenya's continuous cultivation, production, and sale of coffee. All coffee beans are first acquired by the Coffee Board of Kenya (CBK), where they undergo evaluation and grading before being sold at weekly auctions without further grade separation. The Coffee Board of Kenya acts only as an agent, collecting coffee samples and distributing them to buyers for price and quality assessment. The Nairobi auction is held for private exporters, with the Coffee Board of Kenya paying growers below-market prices.

After harvesting, Kenya coffee plantations send fresh coffee beans to cooperative washing stations, which then deliver the washed and dried coffee as "parchment coffee" (beans with the inner skin intact) to cooperatives. All coffee is collected together, with growers demanding average prices based on actual quality. This trading method generally works well, providing fairness to both growers and consumers.

The auction system is also designed to meet blender needs. These auctions typically involve smaller quantities (3-6 tons per lot), with samples bearing grower identification available for buyer evaluation. After auction, exporters package according to different flavors, quality levels, and blender requirements. This provides blenders with significant flexibility. Quality-conscious Germans and Nordic consumers are long-term buyers of Kenya coffee. Some buyers, particularly Japanese merchants, have expressed dissatisfaction with the Kenyan coffee industry system. Nevertheless, Kenya's detailed regulations and comprehensive procedures serve as a valuable model for all coffee-producing countries.

The coffee is aromatic, rich, with fruit flavors and a perfectly rich, complete taste. FrontStreet Coffee Kenya features wonderful fruit flavors with notes of blackberry and grapefruit, making it a favorite among many coffee connoisseurs. This FrontStreet Coffee Kenya offers excellent medium clarity with a crisp, clean taste. Its refreshing flavor makes it ideal for iced coffee in summer.

When tasting this coffee, pairing it with acidic fruits like grapefruit will surely provide the best coffee experience. "Not quite like coffee, but more like fruit tea" is a common perception of this light-roast Kenya coffee. Different climates and rainfall each year bring various distinct and unique characteristics. Take the AA Plus grade "Kenya AA+ Samburu" as example: the 2001 Samburu had rich plum aroma with moderate acidity and rich body, while the 2002 winter new harvest Samburu presented completely different flavors - mulberry berries and green plum with a hint of South Asian spice, leaving a green tea sweet aftertaste, with slightly higher acidity than the previous year but maintaining rich body. Generally common Kenya coffee is not particularly rich but has bright fruit-like flavors, some with spice notes, others with red wine aroma. This is how FrontStreet Coffee Kenya keeps coffee enthusiasts full of anticipation and surprise!

FrontStreet Coffee Kenya AA Brewing Recommendations

Recommended brewing method: Pour-over

Grind size: 3.5 (Japan Fuji R440)

Water temperature: 91°C

V60 filter, 15g coffee, 95°C water temperature, grind 3.5, water-to-coffee ratio approximately 1:15

30g water for bloom, bloom time 30s

Segments: Pour water to 110ml, pause, then slowly pour to 225ml

That is: 30-110-85

Specific pour-over for FrontStreet Coffee Kenya: 15g coffee, medium-fine grind (Fuji hand grinder 3.5), V60 filter, 90-91°C water temperature. First pour 30g water for 30s bloom. Pour to 110g, wait until the water level drops to half, then slowly pour until reaching 225g. Avoid the tail section. Water-to-coffee ratio 1:15, extraction time 2:12.

Other Drip Brewing Recommendations:

French press: Recommended grind 3.5-4, water temperature 90°C

AeroPress: Recommended grind 2.5, water temperature 88°C

Siphon: Grind 4, water temperature 91°C

Related recommendation: World coffee estate introduction: Detailed introduction to Kenya coffee producing country

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473