Kenya's Coffee Revenue in January Up 94% Year-on-Year!

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Kenyan Coffee Revenue Nearly Doubles in January

Rising prices and heavier sales volumes nearly doubled Kenya's coffee revenue in January compared with the same month a year earlier — welcome news for farmers who have watched their incomes slide in recent seasons. Figures from the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) show that coffee earned Kenya 5.2 billion shillings last month, a 94% increase from 2.6 billion shillings in January 2020.

NCE Chief Executive Officer Daniel Mbithi attributed the surge to strong market demand for Kenyan coffee and heavier trading volumes at auction. "Demand for Kenyan coffee is very high right now, especially for high-quality washed beans," Mbithi said. "Prices have climbed astonishingly, from an average of $177.46 in January 2020 to $291.91 per 50 kg — an increase of 64.49%."

According to the latest data from the Central Bank of Kenya, coffee generated 23.63 billion shillings ($216 million) for the country last year, up from 22.43 billion shillings ($205 million) in 2019. Kenya's January 2021 harvest rose 8.81% to 132,149 bags (50 kg each), compared with 121,447 bags in January 2020, mainly because the crop came in early and stimulated production. The average price then rose from 12,221 shillings per 50 kg in the same period last year to 14,520 shillings at the end of last month.

Commodity prices were also lifted by gains on the New York coffee exchange, which plays an important role in determining the value of Kenyan crops.

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FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

If this news has you craving a cup of Kenya, FrontStreet Coffee's Small Tomato is a fine place to start. It is a washed Kenyan single origin from the Thika region, grown at 1550-1750 m from the classic SL28 and SL34 varieties, and given the country's signature 72-hour double washed fermentation. FrontStreet roasts it light to protect the lively acidity and layered fruit, so the dry aroma already carries concentrated sun-dried cherry tomato and floral notes. In the cup you get clear cherry tomato and smoked plum, a bright, solid acidity with the fullness of freshly squeezed juice, a sweet mid-palate with snow pear and black plum, and a clean, lingering finish of yellow sugar and faint green tea. It is exactly the kind of juicy, high-definition Kenyan profile that the auction prices above are chasing.

For an easy everyday introduction to washed East African coffee, FrontStreet Coffee's Washed Yirgacheffe is the companion bottle to keep on the shelf: jasmine, bright citrus and lemon acidity with a tea-like body, at a price that makes it a genuine daily drinker. Together the two make a neat tasting pair — Kenya for power and structure, Yirgacheffe for delicacy and lift.