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How is Kenyan Coffee? Are Kenyan and Kenya Coffee the Same?

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Professional coffee knowledge exchange For more coffee bean information Please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account cafe_style ) FrontStreet Coffee - Kenya Coffee Introduction Kenya is located in eastern Africa, with the equator crossing its central region and the East African Rift Valley running north-south. It borders Somalia to the east, Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west, Ethiopia and South Sudan to the north, and is adjacent to the Indian Ocean to the southeast. Kenya

FrontStreet Coffee - Kenya Coffee Introduction

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For more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style).

FrontStreet Coffee - Kenya Coffee Introduction

Kenya is located in eastern Africa, with the equator crossing through its central region and the East African Rift Valley running north to south. It borders Somalia to the east, Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west, Ethiopia and South Sudan to the north, and the Indian Ocean to the southeast. Kenya's coffee producing areas are mainly concentrated in the highland regions represented by Mount Kenya. The tropical climate and acidic red volcanic soil provide a naturally suitable growing environment for coffee.

Kenya's coffee is mainly grown in fertile volcanic land at altitudes ranging from 1,600 to 2,100 meters. The soil is rich in phosphoric acid, which gives Kenyan coffee its unique acidity and sweetness. Additionally, Kenya's unique Bourbon varieties SL28 and SL34 offer an elegant and refined flavor profile with excellent body. Finally, Kenya utilizes its abundant water resources to pioneer a double-fermentation washed processing method. The entire washing process takes at least 48 hours or even 72 hours, which is also an important reason for the clean and clear taste of Kenyan coffee.

In 1933, the Kenyan government established the official "Coffee Board of Kenya" (CBK), responsible for purchasing, identifying, and grading the country's coffee beans, which are then sold at weekly auctions without further grading. The CBK acts only as an agent, collecting coffee samples and distributing them to buyers to help them determine price and quality. The Nairobi auction is held for private exporters, and the Kenyan Coffee Committee pays growers prices below market value. Kenyan coffee beans have strict grade classifications, with premium coffee beans being glossy, delicious, and slightly wine-like. Germans and Nordics, who focus on quality, have long been purchasers of Kenyan coffee.

Kenya classifies coffee beans by "particle size" and shape into grades AA, AB, C, E, PB, TT, T, ML, and MH. These grades mainly distinguish the shape and size of the beans, not necessarily their quality. Many people believe that larger beans contain more aromatic oils, which is why larger beans are more expensive in the market. Taking Kenya AA as an example, within the same grade level, the highest grade is estate beans, followed by regular AA. AB grading follows the same pattern as AA, while grade C consists of smaller beans, grade E includes extra-large elephant beans, and TT, T, ML, and MH are local grades that don't meet export standards.

As for quality distinction, Kenya uses a numerical grading system to differentiate coffee quality, but this numerical grading system hasn't been widely promoted in China, so relatively few people know about it. Therefore, grading still prioritizes larger particle sizes, while PB grades with different shapes are roughly equivalent to AA. However, if they are estate-grade, they advance two or one levels respectively. For example, AB estate beans are approximately equivalent to AA and PB.

Knowledge Extension: TOP Grade

This is a grading system based on cupping results and is not yet an official national grading standard in Kenya. Exporters grade and add this classification themselves, which inevitably involves commercial considerations, so it should only be used as reference. Ultimately, everything should return to your own roasting and cupping to determine what is truly correct and substantial.

In Summary

FrontStreet Coffee is a coffee research center dedicated to sharing coffee knowledge with everyone. We share without reservation to help more friends fall in love with coffee. Additionally, we hold three low-discount coffee activities each month because FrontStreet Coffee wants to let more friends enjoy the best coffee at the lowest possible price. This has been our mission for the past six years!