Coffee from Kenya : a bright future in the world of Specialty Coffee
Join us on a voyage of coffee discovery to Kenya, the second biggest coffee producer in Africa behind Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee.
Despite having remained under the radar over the last few years, Kenya is nonetheless home to an abundance of specialty coffees.
Roasteries and Baristi from all over the world acclaim Kenyan specialty coffees. At MaxiCoffee, we’re big fans too. So today, let’s try to make you discover this treasure (if you haven’t already), the remarkable aromatic diversity and irresistible sweetness of these delicious coffee beans!
Since when has coffee been grown in Kenya? What role does coffee play in society there? What are the typical characteristics of Kenyan coffee? Read on to find out all you need to know…
Kenya: Africa’s second biggest coffee producer
Discovering the coffee of Kenya is to embark on an exotic adventure, set against the backdrop of vast savannah plains and snowy mountain peaks.
For many travellers, Kenya is the ultimate destination ‒ not only for its sumptuous landscapes and vibrant culture but also for the quality of its coffee. The country’s coffee beans production is split into four areas:
- The high plateaus of the Central province: coffee is grown around Mount Kenya (the second highest mountain in Africa, considered to be sacred by the Kikuyu people).
- The Rift Valley province: producers grow their coffee beans in the area surrounding Mount Elgon, which straddles the border with Uganda in the west of Kenya.
- The Nyanza province: this province is found to the north-east of Lake Victoria (in the country’s south-west region) where coffee bushes and tea plants grow alongside banana trees and other fruit trees.
- The Coastal province, in the south-east: home to the Mijikenda and Swahili peoples and located in the vicinity of Mombasa, coffee is grown both in this province and in the nearby counties of Machakos and Embu.
Kenyan coffee: product specifications
Altitude: 1,400 to 2,100 metres
Soil type: Volcanic
Harvest method: Manual and selective
Treatment: Washed and natural
Sorted by machine and by hand
Harvest season: October to March
Photo credits: Cafés Lugat / Belco / Geo
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About the author
Anne-Sophie
Curieuse et aventurière du goût, Anne-So vous emmène dans ses aventures caféinées !
