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Best Kenya Coffee Bean Brands: Premium AA Grade Coffee Characteristics & Flavors

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat Official Account: cafe_style). FrontStreet Coffee - Kenya Coffee Grading Introduction: Kenya is a renowned origin known for classifying coffee beans by particle size. Typically divided into nine grades, based on bean shape, there are PB (Peaberries), accounting for about 10% of total production, and based on size, there are E (Elephant beans), AA, AB, C, T grades.

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

FrontStreet Coffee - Kenyan Coffee Grading Introduction

Kenya is a renowned origin known for grading coffee beans by particle size. Typically divided into nine grades, based on bean shape, there is PB, which is peaberry, accounting for about 10% of total production. Additionally, according to size, there are E (Elephant Bean), AA, AB, C, T, TT, MH, and ML.

Kenyan Coffee Grade Classifications

AA Plus (AA+): AA grade beans with particularly excellent cup quality (flavor, mouthfeel).

AA: Screen Size 17-18.

AB: Screen Size 15-16, accounting for the majority of production.

C: Smaller than AB screen size.

TT: Lighter weight beans blown out by air classifiers from AA and AB grade beans.

T: Lighter weight beans blown out by air classifiers from C grade beans.

E (Elephant Bean): Large mutant beans where two beans have merged, also known as Elephant ear beans.

UG: Beans that do not meet the above standards.

PB (Peaberry): Classified by shape, unrelated to flavor or weight.

Flavor Characteristics of Common Kenyan Coffee

Common Kenyan coffee is not particularly heavy in body, featuring refreshing acidity and unique fruit flavors. Some have slight spice notes, while others contain red wine aromas, making it an excellent choice for those who dislike bitterness. Taking the three most common classifications - AA, AB, and PB - as examples:

The full-bodied AA grade beans have round, thick flesh with excellent heat conductivity, rich flavor, and good expansion properties. Both aroma and sweetness are of superior quality, and this grade of coffee beans is often considered by many to be among the best in the world. AB grade beans, while not having as solid a mouthfeel as AA, possess more vibrant acidity and a unique balance of sweetness. PB grade beans result from mutations occurring in about 5% of coffee fruits. Since only a single bean grows inside a coffee fruit instead of the usual two, the accumulated nutrients are more concentrated, giving the beans a sweeter and more complex flavor.

When tasting this coffee, pairing it with acidic fruits like pomelo can provide the best coffee experience. "Not quite like coffee, but more like fruit tea" is a common feeling many people have about this light-roasted Kenyan coffee.

Knowledge Point: Kenyan coffee producing areas are mainly distributed in the Central Province, Eastern Province, Rift Valley Province, Western Province, and Nyanza Province.

About FrontStreet Coffee

In short: FrontStreet Coffee is a coffee research center that loves to share coffee knowledge with everyone. We share without reservation simply to help more friends fall in love with coffee. Every month, we hold three coffee events with significant discounts because FrontStreet Coffee wants to let more friends enjoy the best coffee at the lowest possible price. This has been FrontStreet Coffee's mission for the past six years!