What's the Difference Between AA and AA TOP in Kenyan Coffee? Introduction to Thika Region's Asalia K72 Washed Coffee

When it comes to the most acidic coffee, everyone immediately thinks of Kenya. After all, Kenyan coffee is renowned for its clean, refreshing taste, solid brightness, and juice-like acidity. In China, you'll often see Kenyan coffee labeled as "AA" or "AB," with some even marked as "AA TOP." What do these designations mean, and are there significant differences between them?

Understanding Kenya's Coffee Classification System

First, it's important to understand that coffee beans are agricultural products, and their quality can vary. Therefore, every coffee-producing country establishes a classification and grading system for coffee beans. The purpose is to produce homogeneous commercial batches that meet established quality standards, thereby promoting a fair pricing system.

Kenya is no exception. Currently, Kenya grades coffee beans based on their size, shape, color, and density. Generally using bean size and quality as indicators, they are classified into eight grades: AA, AB, PB, C, E, TT, T, and MH/ML. "AA" and "AB" are among these grades and are the most commonly seen in China.

In Kenya, the main coffee varieties cultivated are SL28, SL34, Batian, K7, and Ruiru 11. These varieties share a common characteristic – they produce large coffee beans. In theory, the larger the coffee bean, the higher the quality.

AA grade coffee beans measure between 17-18 screen size, have excellent density, and are recognized locally as high-quality, possessing elegant taste and flavor. AB grade coffee beans measure between 16-17 screen size. Although AB grade beans are not as high quality as AA grade, they are more affordable in price and have the highest yield – approximately 40% of coffee belongs to AB grade, making them extremely popular.

Special Coffee Bean Types in Kenya

Additionally, Kenya has two special bean shape classifications. One is Peaberry (PB), which refers to coffee cherries that contain only one round bean instead of the usual two flat beans. The other special bean type is Elephant bean (E grade), which forms when two coffee beans become intertwined during development, creating one extremely large coffee bean measuring over 21 screen size.

Both of these bean types are special, abnormally developed coffee beans. Only 5% of Kenyan coffee beans are Peaberries (PB), while Elephant beans (E) are even rarer. Consequently, they are less common in the market and command higher prices.

C grade coffee beans measure between 12-14 screen size and are smaller in dimension. TT grade beans are lightweight beans selected from E, AA, and AB grades using air classifiers. T grade consists of defective beans selected from C grade coffee. Therefore, none of these grades are considered specialty coffee levels. MH/ML coffee beans are considered low-quality beans, typically containing some underripe and overripe coffee beans, so they are not exported and are only sold domestically.

Beyond Size: Additional Quality Classifications

However, the size of coffee beans does not directly affect the quality of coffee taste. Therefore, some Kenyan coffee exporters or green bean traders use their own coffee grading system to provide secondary ratings for exported coffee. These are mainly classified by cupping scores into "TOP," "Plus (+)," and "FAQ." It's important to note that this grading is not officially certified by Kenya, and since each merchant has different standards, it should only be used as a reference, with the final determination depending on the actual performance of the coffee beans.

Furthermore, coffee was introduced to Kenya during the British colonial period. The British developed the coffee economy during colonial times, leading Kenya's entire system to lean toward more refined management. In aspects such as coffee breeding, grading, and processing methods, Kenya far surpassed many coffee-producing countries at that time. Therefore, coffee beans reaching AA and AB grades are generally recognized locally as having excellent taste and flavor.

FrontStreet Coffee's Kenyan Selection

FrontStreet Coffee currently offers only one Kenyan coffee: a K72 washed process coffee bean from the Asalia processing plant in the Thika region, using common Kenyan varieties SL28 and SL34 in AA grade. Since these beans are full and round, and to highlight the solid, bright fruit acidity characteristic of Kenyan coffee, FrontStreet Coffee uses light roasting. When brewed, it reveals cherry tomato and dark plum flavors with juice-like acidity, a refreshing taste, and smooth mouthfeel.

Important Notice :

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FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473