Kenya Coffee: A Taste of African Coffee

Kenya, an East African nation that produces more than 2 million bags of coffee a year, and it ranked number 17 in world output. Kenya Coffee has a clear, full-bodied flavor with little or no bitterness and a sweet fragrance. Most of Kenya's Arabica coffee is grown on small farms, on average half acre in size, north of Nairobi and on the slopes of Mt. Kenya. Further in western Kenya, coffee is grown on the slopes of Mt. Elgon, near the Uganda border, including Kenya Blue Mountain variety, who came from Jamaica. According to experts, the best Kenya beans are grown from the fields of rich red, clayey soil at an altitude of around 4500 meters. Most coffee is grown by individual farmers on small plots on average half acre, which dot the landscape. Their efforts have consistently produced excellent coffee, year after year 

The Coffee Board of Kenya established guidelines for standards of beans. Coffee is graded after it is milled; Kenya AA: the largest beans and AB is the next in size. The theory is that the larger beans will contain more of the special oils that give coffee its aroma and taste. While size is important, it is just one factor in the provision of high quality coffee. A second class system was developed to assess the quality of the beans, 1 to 10, with Class 1 being the best. This system is rarely announced, but a Kenya AA coffee could rank as low as 4th class There has been an ongoing discussion of branding different beans based on the area where the beans are grown. There are currently three identified brands, Mt. Kenya, Aberdare and Kenya Blue Mountain. 

Until recently, all coffee sold through an auction, which most experts in the coffee industry, said was effective and brought fair prices to farmers. All farmers were organized into small, craft-oriented, cooperative processing centers. Each day's harvest was sorted and processed separately in small boutique lots of green coffee beans that were sold individually at auction in Nairobi. Unique unmixed lots were purchased by relatively small, high-quality buyers who were willing to pay the price. 

Green Mountain Coffee and Keur Coffee is now offering Fair Trade Certified Kenya AA from the Kenyan Highland Cooperatives. This is available in whole beans and also a K-Cup. Geatcoffee.com involves a Green Mountain Extra Bold Kenya in K-Cups, which has won raves. Says another coffee lover, "This is my all time favorite GM coffee! Try it, you will not be sorry. Great smooth taste and no bitter aftertaste. No minuses.'ve Tried others, but will continue to go back to this . agree with the other, "Surprisingly, this flavor really tastes good. It has a lovely body with the taste and finish with a nice coffee flavor. No bad aftertaste or anything negative. Very good coffee and strongly recommended for people as a medium to dark roast. " 

The ongoing political turmoil and instability has made it difficult for Kenya beans to reach the world market, and also suspended the auction market system. So when you see Kenya in the grocery store or specialty coffee shop, grab a bag or two or a few boxes of K-Cups! You will be satisfied with its rich and bold flavor!