Coffee was first cultivated in Kenya in the nineteenth century by the French. Although Kenyan coffee is cultivated today by small-scale farmers, Kenya is one of the leading producers of coffee in Africa and the world at large. There are a few facts you may love to know about Kenyan Coffee.
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Farming system
The production of Kenyan coffee features a cooperative
system of farming as the greater part of coffee farming is carried out by small
scale farmers in the country. The people of Kenya take coffee farming very
important as it is their major source of income.
- · Areas where they are planted
Central Kenya is known for her highlands with an acidic soil
which is just perfect for the coffee trees. The Kenyan coffee is grown majorly
in the areas of Aberdare Range, Mount Kenya, Bungoma, Nakaru, Kisii, Nyanza,
Kericho while smaller plantations are carried out in Taita hills and Machakos.
- · Harvesting periods
According to a Kenyan Coffee farmer, harvesting of the
coffee beans commences in April through July but there is a far better harvest
within the last quarter of the year.
- ·
Processing Kenyan Coffee
After picking ripe coffee beans, they are fermented for more
than 24 hours. This is to enable the removal of the coating before drying and
further processes such as roasting.
- · Taste and flavour of Kenyan coffee
Kenyan Coffee is usually medium roasted, having an inviting
aroma and taste of fruits and berries. This is what attracts coffee lovers.
- ·
Species of the Kenyan coffee
There are two main types of coffee in the world; robusta and
arabica.
In Kenya, there are improved varieties of the arabica type
which are known to have pest and diseases resistance. These improved varieties
are SL 28, SL34, K7, etc would lead to better yields.
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Brands of Kenyan coffee
Kenyan coffee exists in the market with several names and
brands. The following are some popular brands of the widely desired Kenyan
coffee;
· Nairobi Coffee and Tea Co.’s Kenyan Coffee
· Sweet Maria’sKenya Coffee Beans
· Volcanica Coffee’s Kenya Peaberry
· Teasia Coffee
Places you can buy Kenyan coffee
Kenyan Coffee can be found in various coffee shops around
the world in their various brands.
How Kenyan coffee is brewed in Kenya
Kenyans were reported to take more of tea than coffee but in
recent years, their coffee consumption have increased. The “Bitter Kenyan
Coffee” known as “Kahawa Chunghu” is brewed in a special kettle over a charcoal
stove.
Screen Sizes of the bean seeds
Kenyan coffee is gotten from the bean seeds categorized
based on their sizes. The biggest screen sizes are categorized as AA and these
are often seen as the best quality bean seeds. Other screen sizes of the bean
seeds fall under AB, C, PB, T, TT, UG1, UG2, UG3.
While there are other determinants of a high-quality coffee, taste and aroma are the major concerns for coffee lovers. This is not far fetched when Kenyan coffee is mentioned, standing out in the coffee market with whatever brand it may wear. I recommend that you always search for that brand containing that high-quality Kenyan coffee.