8 Types of Coffee in Kenya – Which is Best!

Kenya coffee, one of the world’s best coffees, is loved and enjoyed by coffee drinkers all over the world, thanks to its mouth-watering aroma and intense flavor profile. Coffee beans from Kenya are uniquely shaped – deep dimension, full body, and balanced complexity.

Before looking at the 8 types of coffee in Kenya, it would be good to find out which varieties of coffee are grown in the country.

a) Arabica

• Arabica coffee has less caffeine than other coffee varieties, is of higher quality, and has a better flavor.
• The varieties of Arabica coffee grown in Kenya include:
  • K7 – grown in lower altitude coffee areas, with good bean and liquor qualities.
  • SL28 – a tall coffee tree with high yields and a good cup profile, grown in medium to high coffee areas.
  • SL34 – A tall, high-yielding coffee tree with an exceptional cup profile, grown in high coffee zones with good rainfall.
  • Ruiru 11 – A dwarf tree with a good cup profile and high-yielding capacity, suitable for all coffee growing areas.
  • Batian – A tall, high-altitude coffee tree with a good cup profile (better than Ruiru 11) with a quick maturation period.

b) Robusta

• The Robusta variety is a high-yielding, easy-to-grow coffee variety.
• It is however not as widely grown in Kenya as the Arabica variety, due to its natural bitterness.

Coffee Grading

• Grades are given to coffee beans before roasting. The grading is done in terms of size, shape, color, and density. 
• The beans are classified according to size because beans of similar sizes roast at the same rate.
• Bigger coffee beans are rated as higher in quality because they naturally contain more essential oils that enhance the aroma and taste of the coffee.
• Kenya coffee is graded into Kenya E, Kenya PB, Kenya AA, Kenya AB, Kenya C, Kenya TT, Kenya T and Kenya MH/ML.

Here is a list of the 8 types of coffee in Kenya.

8. Kenya MH/ML

• The Kenya MH/ML beans are those that either fall from the coffee plant when ripe, or were not picked during coffee picking.
• The beans of this grade are noticeably sour.

7. Kenya T

• The beans classified under the Kenya T grade are faulty, thin, broken, and small coffee beans, or chips of coffee beans left over from the Kenya C grade.

6. Kenya TT

• Kenya TT graded beans are the result of using air extraction to separate all the light density coffee beans from the rest of the Kenya AA, AB, and E graded beans.

5. Kenya C

• Kenya C beans, another of the 8 types of coffee in Kenya, are the thin coffee beans left over when the Kenya AB grade sorting is complete.

4. Kenya E

• Kenya E coffee beans are also called Elephant grade coffee beans. They are the largest coffee beans out of the 8 different grades of Kenya coffee.
• An Elephant bean is taken from a coffee cherry that has 2 coffee seeds joined together inside the cherry.

3. Kenya PB

• Kenya PB coffee beans, or Peaberry coffee beans, are those that have one single coffee bean inside the cherry rather than the more prevalent 2 half-beans inside a cherry.

2. Kenya AB

• The Kenya AB coffee bean has both A and B coffee beans, which are mixed to form the grade AB.
• The coffee produced by these beans is very popular in Kenya and internationally, and is rated as a premium coffee all over the world.

1. Kenya AA

• Kenya AA coffee is by far the most popular and sought-after Kenyan coffee. It is also rated among the world’s finest specialty coffees.
• If you want to know if you are drinking real Kenya AA coffee, look out for the secondary coffee taste sensation that produces a sweet sensation that lingers on the tip of your tongue.

After looking at the 8 types of coffee in Kenya, it is worth noting that Kenya AA coffee is by far the best and the most popular around, followed by Kenya AB. Next time you ask for a coffee, ensure it is made using Kenya AA or Kenya AB coffee! Enjoy your coffee!