AvailableSpecialty
Kenya · Kirinyaga
- Species
- Arabica
- Process
- Fully washed with soak
- Grade
- AB
- Screen
- 15/16
- Crop
- 2025/26
- Quantity
- 150 bags
Plum · Tomato leaf · Black tea
Kenya · Species
Kenya Arabica
Kenyan Arabica is the most structured coffee in the region and the most precisely traceable. This page covers the varieties, the processing and the system that produces both.
- 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 OfferLast reviewed 2 min read
Growing 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.
Region · altitude
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
- 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
Availability
Current Kenya Arabica
Availability moves with the harvest, with milling and with prior commitments. Everything here is confirmed against the current crop on enquiry.
LimitedSpecialty
Kenya · Nyeri
- Species
- Arabica
- Process
- Fully washed with soak
- Grade
- AA
- Screen
- 17/18
- Crop
- 2025/26
- Quantity
- 80 bags
Blackcurrant · Grapefruit · Cane sugar
LimitedSpecialty
Kenya · Murang’a
- Species
- Arabica
- Process
- Fully washed with soak
- Grade
- PB
- Screen
- PB
- Crop
- 2025/26
- Quantity
- 60 bags
Redcurrant · Muscovado · Bergamot
Quality
Quality evaluation
Every parcel runs the same sequence before it is offered and again before it is loaded. What is reported for a given lot depends on what the buyer specifies.
- 01Physical gradePreparation class against the origin’s own system
- 02Screen distributionRetention plus the percentage passing
- 03Defect analysisFull defects per 300 g on a stated weighting table
- 04MoistureRange plus the measurement method and instrument
- 05Water activityWhere the buyer specifies it, for storage stability
- 06DensityBulk density in g/L, for roast planning
- 07Sample roastTo a cupping profile, not a commercial roast
- 08CuppingMultiple cups, against the approved sample
- 09Buyer approvalThe retained sample the shipment is measured against
Crop
Kenya crop calendar
Flowering, harvest, processing, milling and the export window. Regional cycles differ, so this is not one universal season.
Main crop — central highlands and Mount Kenya
Crop year commonly quoted October–September
Stage
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
FloweringLong rains
Cherry development
Harvest
Processing & drying
Dry milling & grading
Main export window
- Flowering: Feb–Apr. Long rains
- Cherry development: Apr–Sep
- Harvest: Oct–Dec
- Processing & drying: Oct–Jan
- Dry milling & grading: Nov–Feb
- Main export window: Dec–Jun
The main crop carries the majority of volume and the tightest factory separations.
Early / fly crop
Crop year commonly quoted October–September
Stage
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
FloweringShort rains
Cherry development
Harvest
Processing & drying
Dry milling & grading
Main export window
- Flowering: Oct–Nov. Short rains
- Cherry development: Nov–Apr
- Harvest: May–Jul
- Processing & drying: May–Aug
- Dry milling & grading: Jun–Sep
- Main export window: Jul–Oct
Smaller and more variable than the main crop; useful for bridging supply mid-year.
Export
Packing and export
- Ports of loading
- Mombasa
- Bag standard
- 60 kg jute; GrainPro or equivalent liners common on specialty lots
- Export window
- December–June for main crop, with early-crop shipments from August
- Incoterms
- FOB · CFR · CIF
Compare
Against the other East African origins
Grade designations do not translate between origins, and harvest windows barely overlap. This is how the region compares at a glance.
| Origin | Species | Main preparation | Representative grades | Harvest | Ports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tanzania | Arabica · Robusta | Fully washed · Natural | AA · A · AB · B | June–October in the south; July–December in the north | Dar es Salaam · Tanga |
| Uganda | Robusta · Arabica | Natural (Robusta) · Washed Arabica (WUGAR) | Screen 18 · Screen 17 · Screen 15 · FAQ | Robusta main crop November–February with a fly crop April–July; Elgon Arabica October–February | Mombasa (Northern Corridor) · Dar es Salaam (Central Corridor) |
| Ethiopia | Arabica | Fully washed · Natural (sun-dried) | Grade 1 · Grade 2 · Grade 3 · Grade 4 | October–January, varying by region and altitude | Djibouti (primary transit port) |
| Rwanda | Arabica | Fully washed · Natural (growing) | Grade 1 (fully washed) · Grade 2 · Screen 15+ · Screen 16+ | March–July, with the peak in April and May | Mombasa (Northern Corridor) · Dar es Salaam (Central Corridor) |
| Burundi | Arabica | Fully washed with soak · Natural (limited) | Grade A · Grade B · Screen 15+ · Screen 16+ | March–July | Dar es Salaam (Central Corridor) · Mombasa (Northern Corridor) |
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What are SL28 and SL34?
Arabica selections released by Scott Laboratories in Kenya and the varieties most associated with the classic Kenyan cup. Both are susceptible to leaf rust and coffee berry disease, which led to the later development of Ruiru 11 and Batian.
Does Ruiru 11 cup differently from SL28?
Generally yes — Ruiru 11 is often described as milder and less structured than the SL selections, with Batian sitting closer to them. Where a factory catchment has shifted heavily towards resistant varieties, the cup can shift too, which is why factory-level cupping matters season to season.
What is a Kenyan factory?
The wet mill operated by a cooperative society, where members deliver cherry for pulping, fermentation, washing, soaking and drying. It is the level at which Kenyan lots are identified.
When is Kenyan coffee harvested?
Main crop October to December, with a smaller fly crop May to July. Main crop shipments typically run December to June.
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.