Kenya · Species
Kenya Arabica
- Species
- Arabica
- Preparation
- Fully washed with soak · Mbuni (natural)
- Harvest
- Main crop October–December; early (fly) crop May–July
Quick answer
Kenyan Arabica is fully washed with a distinctive clean-water soak, grown mainly around Mount Kenya and the Aberdares at 1,400–2,100 m. SL28 and SL34 are the varieties most associated with the classic profile, with Ruiru 11 and Batian bred later for disease resistance.
Contract on: region · grade · screen · process · crop · moisture · defect tolerance · cup approval.
Request current kenya arabicaThe varieties
| Variety | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SL28 | Scott Laboratories selection | Deep, structured acidity; drought tolerant; susceptible to leaf rust and CBD |
| SL34 | Scott Laboratories selection | Similar profile to SL28; handles higher rainfall better |
| K7 | Kenyan selection | Some disease tolerance; generally milder in the cup |
| Ruiru 11 | Bred for disease resistance | Compact, high yielding; resistant to CBD and leaf rust |
| Batian | Later disease-resistant release | Taller than Ruiru 11, with a cup closer to the SL selections |
The disease-resistance story matters commercially. SL28 and SL34 produce the profile Kenya is known for and are vulnerable to coffee berry disease and leaf rust. Ruiru 11 and Batian were developed in response. Where a factory’s catchment has shifted heavily towards the resistant varieties, the cup can shift with it — which is one reason factory-level cupping matters season to season.
Processing
Cherry is delivered to a cooperative factory — the wet mill — where it is pulped, fermented, washed in grading channels, soaked in clean water and dried on raised beds. The soak is the step that distinguishes Kenyan processing and is strongly associated with the clarity of the cup. See washed coffee.
The regions
- Nyeri — red volcanic soils between the Aberdares and Mount Kenya, 1,600–2,000 m. Many of the most structured, blackcurrant-driven lots.
- Kirinyaga — southern and eastern Mount Kenya, dense factory network, frequently very tight day-lot separations.
- Murang’a — large smallholder base south of Nyeri, generally rounder and less piercing.
- Embu and Meru — eastern Mount Kenya; Meru in particular can be juicier and more tropical.
- Kiambu — estate-heavy, close to Nairobi, producing large uniform single-estate lots.
- Kisii, Bungoma and Trans-Nzoia — western highlands, smaller volumes, softer acidity, more accessible pricing.
Harvest
- Main crop
- October–December, following the long rains flowering in February–April
- Fly crop
- May–July, following the short rains flowering in October–November
- Main crop export
- December–June
- Fly crop export
- July–October
The fly crop is smaller and more variable than the main crop, and is useful for bridging mid-year supply. See the Kenya crop calendar.
Kenyan Arabica enquiries
Tell us the profile and volume. We will confirm what the current crop supports, with the factory and outturn identified.
Request Current Crop OfferGrowing regions
Kenya growing regions
Altitude and harvest timing are the two variables a sourcing decision turns on. Where two regions overlap they compete for the same milling and shipping slot; where they do not, a programme can be scheduled across them.
- Nyeri1,600–2,000 m
- Embu & Meru1,300–1,950 m
- Kirinyaga1,400–1,900 m
- Kisii, Bungoma & Trans-Nzoia1,500–1,900 m
- Murang’a1,350–1,800 m
- Kiambu1,500–1,800 m
- Nyeri
- Altitude
- 1,600–2,000 m
- Harvest
- October–December, fly crop May–July
- Processing
- Fully washed with soak
- Species
- Arabica
- Kirinyaga
- Altitude
- 1,400–1,900 m
- Harvest
- October–December, fly crop May–July
- Processing
- Fully washed with soak
- Species
- Arabica
- Murang’a
- Altitude
- 1,350–1,800 m
- Harvest
- October–December, fly crop May–July
- Processing
- Fully washed with soak
- Species
- Arabica
- Embu & Meru
- Altitude
- 1,300–1,950 m
- Harvest
- October–December, fly crop May–July
- Processing
- Fully washed with soak
- Species
- Arabica
- Kiambu
- Altitude
- 1,500–1,800 m
- Harvest
- October–December, fly crop May–July
- Processing
- Fully washed with soak
- Species
- Arabica
- Kisii, Bungoma & Trans-Nzoia
- Altitude
- 1,500–1,900 m
- Harvest
- October–December
- Processing
- Fully washed
- Species
- Arabica
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What are SL28 and SL34?
Does Ruiru 11 cup differently from SL28?
What is a Kenyan factory?
When is Kenyan coffee harvested?
Keep reading
Related to Kenya Arabica
- Kenya Coffee GradesKenya’s grading terminology explained — E, AA, AB, PB, C, TT, T and Mbuni MH/ML — what each separation is, and why bean size does not determine cup quality.
- Kenya harvest and export calendarHarvest and export windows for six East African origins, with every regional cycle.
- Washed coffee — process, cup and specificationWashed, natural and honey processing explained — what each does to the cup, where the risk sits and how to specify it.
- Kenya AA Green CoffeeKenya AA green coffee: what the grade actually specifies, why size does not determine cup quality, what it costs in outturn, and how to write the specification.
- Kenya AB Green CoffeeKenya AB green coffee: the combined A and B block, why it carries most of an outturn, and why it is frequently the best value on a Kenyan offer list.
- Kenya Green CoffeeKenyan green coffee: the factory and outturn system, the AA/AB/PB grade ladder, soak processing, growing regions and how to buy Kenyan coffee well.
Request an offer
Tell us the Kenya coffee you need
Region, process, grade, screen, moisture, defect tolerance, crop year, packaging and destination. Send what you know and we will confirm what Kenya realistically supports for the current crop.