Best Kenyan Coffee (6 Top Brands in 2024)

The Best Kenyan Coffee Beans

Kenyan coffee is generally considered high-variance (amazingly sweet and juicy, or obnoxiously boring) because the country has different growing regions producing different varieties with unique characteristics. Arabica is the most prevalent coffee in the country. It is preferred to Robusta because of its milder, sweeter and more nuanced characteristics.

The rare bright, fruity-floral, highly-acidic nature of most Kenyans is a result of the superb climate, altitude, and unique soil in the growing regions. The popular cranberry, jammy notes with high-tone acidity originate from Kiambu and Nyeri. Coffees from Kirinyanga region have a tropical flavor profile that feels exotic. They have an intense fruit punch and white wine-like taste, with lime, and cranberry notes. Embu produces dark flavor profile with spice notes.

All the coffees grown at higher elevations of 1400 to 2000 meters above sea level are labeled Strictly High Grown/Strictly Hard Beans. The high altitude climate supports a slow growth, allowing the beans to develop rich, nuanced flavors and nutrients.

Kenyan Coffee Varieties

• SL-28
• SL-34
• SL 14
• Ruiru 11
• Batian
• Kent
• K7

The SL-28 and SL-34 remain the most globally  acclaimed varieties because they have the classic profile of citric acidity and fruity notes associated with Kenyans. SL is Scott labs. They were hired by the Kenyan government to establish the best coffee strains for the country in the 1930s.

The SL-34 is popular for its heavy rainfall resistance and unique bronze-tipped leaves.

The SL-28 is more premium and is loved for its outstanding clean and crisp acidity. It does well in medium to high elevations.

The K7 is a Bourbon varietal from Muhoroni. It was cupped before cultivation by the French Mission.

The Ruiru 11 is the most adaptable variety. It grows well in all elevation levels and is highly resistant to the dreadful coffee berry disease and coffee leaf rust.

Kenyan Coffee Grading

The Kenyan Coffee Grading system relies on various fators like bean characteristics (size, shape,weight, and color), processing method, cup quality, growing regions, botanical variety, altitude and defects. Farmers grade the beans while still green. The physical parameters of the beans are primarily considered in the grading, and larger beans are assumed to have more oils, which according to the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE), means more flavor and delicious aroma. The grades include;

1. E (Elephant’s screen 20)
2. AA screen 18
3. AB screen 16
4. PB Peaberry screen 12
5. C
6. TT
7. T
8. MH/ML (Mbuni Heavy /Mbuni Light)

The Kenyan AA coffee beans have a worldwide reputation for having mind blowing intense flavors and aroma. Any coffee brand with the Kenyan AA label is high-end because it belongs at the top-end of Kenya’s coffee grading system. Besides the grading system, the Coffee Board of Kenya came up with a class system that further ranks beans of a certain grade from worst cup quality to best. For all grades, the finest cup quality is a 1, and the worst a 10. 

Grade AB is a combination of grade A and B beans. Peaberry is a popular bean, especially in Japan because of its unique genetic build up (or defect). It grows as a single seed in one cherry. Kenyan Peaberry is world-famous, though not as much as the Tanzanian Peaberry.

Thin beans from grade B are pushed to C and thinner, lightweight and faulty ones pushed to grade T. Grade TT constitutes beans that are lightweight, thin, and faulty from grades E, AA, and AB.

Mbuni means inventor in swahili. I’m guessing we had to invent a grade for what we are supposed to throw (we don’t waste in Africa). The Mbuni Heavy and Mbuni Light beans are graded least because they are low-quality and probably fell of the tree before ripening. They are dry/naturally processed and are characterized by a sour taste.

Most Kenyan coffees are washed, or wet-processed. In fact, most are double washed, hence their clean, and abundant crisp acidity.

Pro Tip: A high extraction in a filter method is the best way to brew any Kenyan as it will allow the fruity-sweet-acidic profile to shine. To get the candy or soft-drink (sprite-like) flavor with balanced acidity and sweetness; grind finer, use a higer water to coffee ratio, higher temperature, and do multiple pours with more agitation.

Best Kenyan Coffee Brands

1. Volcanica Kenya AA: Best Overall
2. Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC Kenya AA: Best Strong
3. Cooper’s cask: Best for Cold Brew
4. Java House Kenya AA: Best Medium Roast
5. Henry’s House of Coffee: Best for Milk
6. Vertere Coffee Roasters Kenya AB Kabare Karani: Best Kenya AB

Volcanica Kenya AA

Click here for the best deal

Volcanica is a reputable coffee brand known for premium quality coffee. It is a prime option for anyone looking to try Kenyan coffee for the first time. Volcanica Kenya AA is a single-origin coffee from Nyeri Hill Estate, which produces coffee with the most exotic flavor profiles  like the SL 28 and SL 34.

The Volcanica Kenya AA comes from various washing stations that produce the ultimate,  well-balanced cup of coffee. The coffee has tantalizing earthy and fruity tones that almost resemble white wine. Like many high-altitude coffees, it will hit you with top notes of cranberries, raspberries, and redwood. You will also feel some sweet, light tartness and savoriness that add to the coffee’s flavor complexity. You will enjoy its light, yet plump and satiny feel in the mouth.

Besides the medium roast, Volcanica also offers whole Kenyan AA coffee in decaf. Although it has a premium price tag, it may be your best money spent as it is hard to come by such a perfect balance of flavor and caffeine levels. 

Pros

• Sweet and light tartness
• Popular brand
• It also comes in decaf

Cons

• Premium price point

Kenya AA by Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC

If you enjoy dark roasts, this will be your best money spent. Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC is another big wig in the coffee industry. The company sources its Kenya AA coffee from family-owned coffee farms near the slopes of Mt. Elgon in Bungoma County. With high altitudes up to 1500 meters above sea level, this Kenya AA is a tad sweeter than your everyday pack of supermarket beans. It is smooth, full-bodied, and bursts in strong flavor without a bitter aftertaste.

Like most Kenyan wet-processed coffees, the Kenya AA by Fresh Roasted LLC is incredibly sweet and bright with an irresistible floral fragrance. The beans are rich and oily; so oily that you may have to clean your grinder after every use. The coffee’s body is extra-bold, yet bright, allowing fruity and wine-like flavors to come through. Its prominent notes are peach and citrus and is suitable for virtually all brewing methods. Plus, you can grab pre-ground beans in different grind sizes if you don’t have a grinder.

Pros

• Fragrant fruity notes
• Strong
• No bitter aftertaste
• Lower acidic levels
• Suitable for most brewing methods

Cons

• A bit on the pricey end

Cooper’s cask

The Cooper’s cask Kenyan coffee beans are a fantastic choice for anyone looking to experience Kenya’s archetypal fruitiness and sweetness. The high-quality beans have intense flavors with distinct chocolate, and cherry notes. They also boast a delicious aroma of molasses honey and wheat tea biscuits. What’s more, the coffee beans are a micro-lot single-origin from the bourbon varietal, which are famous for their tart and dark fruit undertones.

The Kenyan coffee market is known to be virtually fruity and sweet. With the distinct chocolate notes, Cooper cask’s coffee beans offer you a different taste. The beans are perfect for any brewing method, but none highlights its wonderful notes better than a cold brew.

Pros

• Delightful cherry/chocolate taste
• Perfect for cold brew
• Incredibly affordable

Cons

• Some users have complained that their coffee beans arrived stale

Java House Kenya AA

Java House is a famous Kenyan café, renowned for the broadest and best coffee drinks menu. The American diner-style restaurant was the first  to introduce gourmet coffee drinking culture in Kenya. The Java House Kenya AA is not your typical cup of Joe. It is a highly recommended brand from the Kenyan soils because of its beans’ extreme appetizingness. The beans are full-bodied with an intense fruity flavor and a lively bright-green apple-y acidity.

The fruity and spicy notes in the Kenya AA by Java House are more apparent because the beans are roasted a bit lighter than most supermarket Kenyan coffee brands. Although the acidity is dominant, you get a bit of chocolate notes. The distinct, rich and bright acidity is a result of the loamy volcanic soils in the Kenyan highlands where the coffee originates from.

With such a rich profile, the medium roast coffee could have easily scooped the top spot on this list, but it is a bit on the pricey end and, thus better suited for adventurous coffee drinkers.

Pros

• Intensely fruity
• Uniquely acidic

Cons

• Not all coffee drinkers can handle the acidity

Henry’s House of Coffee

Kenya Light by Henry’s House of Coffee (HoC) is a great alternative to the Java House medium roast if you love light to medium roasts.  The Kenya AA coffee beans have intense fruity and earthy tones, typical of Kenyan coffee, as well as natural vanilla, berries and lemon flavors.

Henry’s House of coffee Kenya AA is a fantastic coffee for milk-based drinks like lattes and cappuccinos. The smoothness of milk compliments its acidity well, giving you a delicious well-rounded taste. The coffee’s only downside is that it isn’t organic or Fair trade which is quite the buzz in the coffee world today.

Pros

• Great for milk-based coffee drinks
• Delicious fruity and citrus-y flavor
• Reputable brand

Cons

• Not organic or Fair-trade

Vertere Coffee Roasters Kenya AB Kabare Karani

Vertere Coffee roasters is a specialty coffee roaster based in Kingwood, United States. The famous Kenya AB Kabare Karani is one of the pleasant and intriguing world-famous coffees they offer. The coffee is a product of Kabare cooperative society, which manages 11 washing stations on the Southern slopes of Mt. Kenya in Kirinyaga county.

On top of having a compelling aroma, Kenya AB Kabare Karani has a perfectly balanced acidity and a slightly tart taste. The medium-bodied coffee has complex flavors with lemonade, orange peel, floral and berry notes. Vertere offers the coffee in various grind options including, whole bean and pre-ground for Chemex, French Press, Metal, and paper filters.

Pros

• Slightly tart taste
• Balanced acidity
• Available in various grind options

Cons

• Premium price point

Buying Guide

High-quality coffee beans are the real game changer if you want to improve your coffee drinking experience. The trick of choosing the best coffee beans is establishing what works for you first, before picking a brand. Making a choice that suits your needs can be a daunting process, especially with the sea of options. This section has pro-tips that will help you make the best-informed choice.

Things to Consider When Buying the Best Kenyan

Here are 5 crucial parameters you should consider when choosing coffee beans;

Type of coffee and Flavor profile

There are two main types of coffee; Arabica and Robusta. Arabica coffee beans grow on highland regions, and have a smooth, and slightly acidic taste. Robusta coffee does well in low-altitude areas and is characterized by a strong, bitter taste. If you are a coffee novice, you should try both types of coffee to know what works for you. According to the Coffee Research Institute in Kenya, Arabica is the only coffee grown in the country. The rich, red volcanic soils in the Kenyan highlands are conducive for its growth.

As for flavor profiles, you would have to trust your local roaster’s descriptions, which can be misleading at times. As a devout coffee-head, you should know better than to take descriptors literally.  Generally, Kenyan coffees have tropical fruit, floral, citrus, red, and black berry notes.  They have an ‘on-the-face’ sort of acidity that baristas and roasters describe as a zesty, tomato-soup flavor. Some coffees like Vertere Coffee Roaster – Kabare Karani AB have a lemon-lime zesty taste that almost tastes like Sprite. Although extremely acidic, good Kenyan coffees should have some sweetness like that of a bright tropical juice. Too much tartness and excessive tomato-ish flavor could mean the beans are under-extracted or badly roasted.

AAs also have a slightly savory, bready, biscuity note that gives them a full body and a sort of dry flavor. The fruity notes come through as soft and dry. A Kenyan AA will not give you a juicy sensation you would get from another coffee with similarly high acidity.

Caffeine concentration

The caffeine concentration of raw coffee beans changes after roasting. Coffee beans that are mildly roasted have the highest caffeine concentration. The Java House Kenya AA coffee beans are a prime example of a light roast. Light roasts are brown and have no oils on the surface because they are not roasted long enough. They make the best black coffee for beginners because they are more floral and fruity. The Henry’s House of coffee Kenya AA is a perfect example of a light roast ideal for beginners.

Medium roasts have a medium concentration of coffee with a non-oily surface and a more robust flavor. Medium roasts are popularly known as the American roast because they are a top preference in the United States.

Strong roasts have the least amount of caffeine. Also known as dark roasts, they have an oily surface and a shiny black appearance. They are less acidic and come in a wide range, from slightly dark to charred. You should try different coffees with different caffeine concentrations to know what you like.

Single origin or blended coffee

As its name suggests, single origin coffee comes from one location. The beans are not blended with others from a different location, thus will give you the ultimate unadulterated coffee drinking experience. If you would love to experience the best of two or three worlds, go for coffee blends.  All the Kenyan coffee brands on this list are single origin.

Coffee beans vs. Ground coffee

Coffee beans are way better than pre-ground coffee, from groceries and supermarkets. When you grind coffee beans, the oils that give them fruity, floral, toasty notes and all the exciting flavors degrade. Pre-ground coffee will not give you a delightful, fresh cup of coffee like beans you grind yourself. Switching from pre-ground supermarket coffee to whole beans will make a day and night difference. Better yet, you will reach coffee heaven when you switch from pre-ground supermarket coffee to specialty roasted beans from.

To make a wholesome cup of coffee, grind the beans before brewing. The rule of thumb is to begin grinding while the water is already on the stove. The beans should be super-fresh. You can freeze them if it takes you too long to go through the bag. Pie in the sky would be buying beans weekly from your local roaster. You could also get a coffee subscription and opt for weekly deliveries for the freshest coffee.

Are you a coffee beginner looking to invest in the right coffee equipment but have no idea what to look for? I will point you to my article; 5 coffee-beginner essentials to buy in 2022 for top options.

Roast date

Roast date should be your top consideration when buying coffee as it is the key indicator of freshness. It is the most crucial information on coffee’s packaging. Two weeks is the ideal period for freshness. Coffees have different peak flavor windows, some will be delicious fresh out of the roaster, while others need to rest for up to 21 days to reach peak flavor.

The peak flavor window depends on the coffee’s origin. Low elevation coffees will taste great fresh from the roaster an should be used before the standard 21-day mark. Conversely, high-elevation coffees like Kenyan and Ethiopian, should rest for a minimum of seven days and a maximum of 20 days before brewing. They begin to decline in quality after 28 days from the roast date.

The easiest way to access fresh coffee beans is through a coffee-house subscription.

Best Kenyan Coffee Brands: Final Take

Go ahead and order a Kenyan for the ultimate ‘coffee fruit juice’  experience. The country’s different coffee growing regions produce robust, variable coffee flavor profiles that can meet most coffee lovers’ needs. My best pick, the Volcanica Kenya AA is the best option for experiencing all the sweetness that Kenya has to offer. The Kenya AA by Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC will add a bit of complexity in your cup with its sweet, floral fragrance.

The Java House Kenya AA would be a welcome addition to any adventurous coffee connoisseur’s caffeine treasure chest. Although it is one of the best Kenyan coffee brands, you may not like its high acidity if you are a polite drinker.