Coffee-Producing Countries in Africa and an Introduction to Kenya's Coffee Bean Grading System

For professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information, please follow Cafe_Style (WeChat public account: cafe_style).

FrontStreet Coffee - African Coffee Origins: Introduction to Kenyan Coffee Grades

Africa has numerous coffee-producing countries, with some of the most renowned globally including Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Kenya. FrontStreet Coffee has always particularly favored Kenyan coffee - its rich fruit aroma, vibrant fruity acidic notes, and lively, bright acidity make it among the finest examples of specialty coffee.

The high-altitude washed Arabica coffee beans produced in Kenya can be considered among the world's finest in terms of quality. Kenya's coffee industry operates under the strict management of the Kenya Coffee Board, ensuring consistently excellent quality. Kenyan coffee is famous for its intense fruity flavors, characterized by lemon and citrus aromatic notes.

Kenya borders Ethiopia, the birthplace of Arabica coffee trees, but coffee cultivation did not begin until the early 20th century. In the 19th century, missionaries introduced Arabica trees from Yemen, but they were not widely planted. It wasn't until 1893 that ancient Bourbon coffee seeds from Brazil were introduced, leading to large-scale coffee cultivation. This means current Kenyan coffee carries Brazilian heritage, though due to differences in soil, climate, and processing methods, Kenyan beans have completely different flavor profiles from Brazilian beans.

Kenyan coffee trees are primarily concentrated on the slopes near Mount Kenya, at altitudes ranging from approximately 4,000 to 6,500 feet. This elevation is ideal for the development of coffee bean flavors, as mountain temperatures are lower, causing slower growth. This allows the aromatic components in the coffee beans to fully develop, resulting in more pronounced fruit acidity and harder density. Additionally, Kenya was formerly a British colony, and the British established a comprehensive cultivation and quality management system. After Kenya's independence, the coffee industry made significant strides on this foundation, becoming Kenya's most profitable foreign exchange industry.

Kenyan beans are subject to a strict grading system. Coffee beans from washing mills are classified into seven grades based on size, shape, and hardness. The highest grade is AA or AA+, followed in order by AB, PB, C, TT, and T. This grading system is similar to Colombia's, primarily considering particle size and appearance, though good appearance doesn't necessarily guarantee the best flavor.

Knowledge Extension

The plump, full-bodied AA grade beans are round and thick, with excellent heat conductivity, delivering rich flavors and good expansion. Their aroma and sweetness are both exceptional, and this grade of coffee beans is often considered by many to be among the world's finest coffees.

In Summary

FrontStreet Coffee is a dedicated coffee research establishment that enjoys sharing coffee knowledge with everyone. We share without reservation simply to help more friends fall in love with coffee. Additionally, we hold three discounted coffee events each month because FrontStreet Coffee wants to allow more friends to enjoy the finest coffee at the lowest possible prices - this has been our mission for the past six years!

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473