Does Kenyan Green Bean Grading Determine Coffee Varieties? Intense Flavor and Rich Aroma of Kenyan Coffee

FrontStreet Coffee - Introduction to Kenyan Coffee

Kenyan coffee is strong and rich in fruit acidity, with a full body and a beautiful balance, and Kenya AA is one of its finest examples. Most coffee in Kenya is grown at altitudes above 1800-2100 meters, cultivated using the most reasonable methods and processed with careful quality management. As a result it has an excellent aroma and acidity with outstanding balance, making it one of the main representative coffees of the African region.

AA grade is a classification name for green coffee beans. The general grades of green coffee beans include AA, A, B and C. This mainly refers to the size of the coffee beans. AA grade refers to larger coffee beans, generally green coffee beans with particles above 17 mesh (17 mesh = a sieve diameter of 6.75mm).

Kenya is a renowned origin that classifies coffee beans by size. It is typically divided into nine grades. Based on bean shape there is PB (peaberry, accounting for about 10% of total production). Based on size there are E (elephant bean), AA, AB, C, T, TT, MH and ML. The best coffee grade is peaberry PB, followed by AA++, AA+, AA, AB and so on, in descending order. These beautiful green beans are graded according to size, shape and weight:

E: Kenya E, elephant bean, 18 mesh or above (including peaberries)

AA: Kenya AA, 17-18 mesh

AB: Kenya AB, 15-16 mesh, a mix of grade A and grade B

TT: light beans separated from AA and AB by air classifier

PB: Kenya PB, 15 mesh or above, peaberries

C: 12-14 mesh, and light beans separated from PB by air classifier

T: below 12 mesh, with more defective beans, broken beans and light beans

HE: the above grades become HE (Hulled Ears)

(Note: 17 mesh (6.75mm) or above is grade A, 16 mesh (6.3mm) or above is grade B. 18 mesh = 18/64 inches, 1 inch = 25.4 millimeters)

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

Kenyan grading tells you the size of the bean, but the flavor comes from variety, altitude and processing, and FrontStreet's Kenya Small Tomato is a good illustration. It is a Kenyan specialty washed bean built around vivid cherry tomato and dark plum acidity with a full, juice-like body, a popular choice for anyone who loves bright fruit acidity and complex flavors. The beans come from Kenya's Thika region, grown at 1550-1750 meters, and use the classic local SL28 and SL34 varieties, giving a full, rounded bean.

Processing uses Kenya's signature 72-hour double-washed fermentation, which fully draws out the fruit aromas while keeping the cup clean and pure. FrontStreet roasts it light to preserve the lively acidity and layered fruit as much as possible. The dry aroma already shows concentrated sun-dried tomato and florals; the entry brings clear cherry tomato and dark plum with a bright, solid acidity as full as freshly squeezed juice. Mid-palate the sweetness stands out, threaded with the fresh fruit of snow pear and black plum, and the finish is clean and long, carrying brown sugar sweetness and a faint green tea note.

For a very different expression of high-grown African coffee, FrontStreet's Ethiopia Hualianggui, from the Hambella area of Guji in Sidamo, is roasted medium-light and bursts with tropical fruit: strawberry, passion fruit, jackfruit and even lychee, with obvious sweetness, almost no bitterness and a smooth, juicy mouthfeel. Both coffees sit comfortably in the light-to-medium roast range, so a pour-over at a moderate temperature will bring out their best.