Kenya AA Coffee

Can't decide? Give Volcanica a try, it's one of our favorites!

So what is Kenya AA coffee anyway? Kenya AA coffee does not refer to beans from a particular single origin. The AA portion of the name is in reference to the Kenyan coffee bean size grading system.

Kenya AA beans are the second biggest in the ranking system. Only E (for elephant) grade beans are bigger.

Larger beans are often associated with a higher quality, but size isn’t everything! On top of the size grading, Kenyan beans are also assigned a quality class. Quality can range from 1-10, where 10 indicates the highest quality.

Consumers have come to expect class 10, AA graded beans!

As the AA label does not indicate a growing origin, Kenya AA beans can come from a few different regions. Different growing regions offer slightly different conditions, and thus the final product can vary a little.

The vast majority of Kenyan coffee is grown at high altitudes between 1400-2000m. Mt. Kenya and Mt. Elgon offer such elevations and also provide nutrient packed volcanic soils that are ideal for the growth of coffee.

The capital city of Nairobi, situated just south of Mt. Kenya, is the heart of the coffee industry in Kenya. Beans grown in the Mt. Kenya range are often marketed as being Nairobi born, due to it being a very recognizable Kenyan coffee brand name.

Seeing as how there are many regions in which Kenya AA coffee is grown, there is some variance to the signature taste profile. Different locations range in elevation, soil quality and various processing methods are used.

In spite of this, Kenya AA coffee has one of, if not the most distinguished taste profile of all. You can expect your Kenya AA coffee to offer these signature characteristics;

Sounds pretty good right? This description honestly doesn’t do Kenya AA coffee justice, you really need to taste it to understand.

Kenya AA coffee is one of the most well-known and highly regarded coffee varieties in the world, famous for its exceptional quality and unique flavor profile. The history of Kenya AA coffee is closely tied to the development of the coffee industry in Kenya.

Coffee cultivation in Kenya began in the late 19th century during the British colonial era. The British colonial government encouraged coffee production as a cash crop, and coffee was first planted in the region around Nairobi in the 1890s.

The coffee industry in Kenya grew steadily throughout the early 20th century, with coffee plantations established in various regions, particularly in the highlands areas of central Kenya. The country's high altitudes, volcanic soils, and equatorial climate provided ideal conditions for growing Arabica coffee.

Kenya AA coffee is characterized by large beans, distinctive bright acidity, and a complex flavor profile with notes of black currant, wine, and citrus. These unique flavor attributes are attributed to the country's terroir, which includes factors such as altitude, soil composition, and climate.

Kenya's coffee industry continued to thrive in the decades that followed. Coffee became a vital export for the country, contributing significantly to Kenya's economy.

In the 1950s, Kenya underwent significant political changes as it sought independence from British rule. The coffee industry also experienced changes during this period, with efforts made to empower smallholder farmers and promote cooperative coffee production.

Today, Kenya remains a prominent player in the global coffee market, known for producing some of the world's best Arabica coffee. The grading system, which includes AA, AB, PB, and other grades, continues to be used to classify Kenyan coffee based on bean size.

To protect the authenticity and reputation of Kenyan coffee, the Coffee Board of Kenya oversees the quality control and marketing of Kenyan coffee. The board ensures that Kenyan coffee meets specific standards, and only coffee produced within the designated regions of Kenya can be labeled as "Kenya AA" or other grades.

Kenya AA coffee is highly sought after by specialty coffee roasters and enthusiasts worldwide. Its unique and complex flavor profile, combined with strict quality control measures, makes it a prized coffee variety and a source of pride for Kenya's coffee industry.

Due to the reputation of Kenya AA coffee, the market is flooded with options to choose from. With so many options, it’s tough to know which beans will give you the Kenyan coffee experience that everyone is raving about.

That’s where we come in. As Kenya AA coffee enthusiasts, (to put it lightly) we have tried countless different beans from countless different roasters. Here are the 3 best Kenya AA coffee beans that we’ve tried! Enjoy!

That's a wrap ladies and gentleman. Hopefully you've found a Kenya AA coffee that sounds right for you!

What are your thoughts on Kenya AA coffee? Do you have a favorite that we need to try? let us know!