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Cultivation of Premium Coffee Beans from Kenya AA Grade Kirinyaga Region Karatina Kongoni Processing Station

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Varieties: SL 28, SL 34 | Processing Station: Kongoni Processing Station | Producer: Karatina Cooperative Society | Flavor Profile: Grapefruit, green tea, citrus, raspberry, black plum. Located in East Africa, Kenya is one of the major coffee-producing countries, with approximately six million people nationwide engaged in the coffee industry, mostly in the form of smallholders and cooperatives. Kenya's coffee trees are predominantly grown at altitudes of 1,400-2,000 meters, where coffee

Coffee Details

Varieties: SL 28, SL 34

Processing Station: Kongyu Processing Station

Producer: Kabare Cooperative

Flavor Notes: Grapefruit Green Tea, Citrus, Raspberry Black Plum

Kenya: The Origin

Located in East Africa, Kenya stands as one of the world's premier coffee-producing nations, with approximately six million people engaged in the coffee industry, primarily through small-scale farmers and cooperative models.

Kenya's coffee trees are predominantly cultivated at elevations between 1,400-2,000 meters, with growing regions including Ruiri, Thika, Kirinyaga, Mt. Kenya West, Nyeri, Kiambu, and Muranga, primarily along the foothills of Mt. Kenya and the Aberdare Range.

Many coffee-growing regions in Kenya are dedicated to preserving native forest ecosystems, protecting natural gene banks, supporting the propagation of wild coffee varieties, and nurturing diverse coffee trees.

The Legacy of SL28 and SL34 Varieties

In 1930, Kenya's unique varieties SL28 and SL34 were cultivated and named by "Scott Laboratories," born from this exceptional environment.

According to botanists at SL Laboratories, both SL28 and SL34 are genetic variants. Among them, SL28 possesses a mixed heritage of French Mission, Mocha, and Yemeni Typica. The original goal in developing SL28 was to mass-produce coffee beans that combined high quality with resistance to pests and diseases.

Although SL28's yields later proved lower than expected, its copper-colored leaves and broad bean shape produce wonderful sweetness, balance, and complex, varied flavors, along with distinctive citrus and black plum characteristics. Meanwhile, SL34 offers flavors similar to SL28 but with a heavier, richer, and cleaner mouthfeel, featuring complex acidity and excellent sweet finish. SL34 has French Mission, Bourbon, and greater Typica heritage. While similar in appearance to SL28, it adapts better to sudden heavy rainfall. These two important varieties guide our understanding of the unique Kenyan style: intense, rich fruit acidity, full body, and beautiful balance.

Flavor Profile

Aroma: Intense lemon and plum aromas in both dry and wet fragrance

Light Roast: Reveals stunning floral and lemon notes, with juicy sweet-tart flavors reminiscent of grapefruit green tea and citrus juice

Medium Roast: Develops honey and raspberry black plum flavors

Finish: A delightful sweet-tart green tea aftertaste

Origin Story

This Kenya coffee comes from the Kabare Cooperative's Kongyu Processing Station in the Kirinyaga region. Using the Kenyan double-washed processing method, these beans grow on the eastern slopes of the Kenya Mountain range in the Manyatta-Embu County at elevations of 1,550-1,750 meters. The classic SL28 and SL34 varieties, combined with the region's significant day-night temperature variations and Kenya's red phosphoric soil, create a sweet-tart profile as the primary flavor foundation of this Kenya coffee.

The fresh coffee cherries for this Kongyu AA lot are harvested and processed by 250 farmers from the Kongyu Processing Station under the Kabare Farmers Cooperative. After being pulped, fermented, and washed using water from the nearby Kongyu River, the coffee is dried on African raised beds. During each harvest season, farmers process nearly 300 tons of fresh coffee cherries. Once processing is complete, the coffee participates in Nairobi's weekly Wednesday coffee auction. When selected by licensed exporters, it is shipped to consumer markets worldwide.

A Unique Expression

With previous Kenya coffees, we particularly sought out those angular, powerful fruit acids. However, this particular Kenya coffee reveals a gentler character—like facing the sea with a gentle breeze caressing your senses.