Kilimanjaro Specialty Coffees
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    • Ethiopia >
      • Ethiopia Oba Toli Natural
      • Ethiopia Kolla Bolcha
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      • Kenya Mchana Natural
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    • Rwanda >
      • Rwanda Muhororo FW
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      • Rwanda Muhororo Anaerobic Natural
      • Rwanda Gasharu Anaerobic Natural
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  • Orígenes
    • Etiopía >
      • Etiopía Oba Toli Natural
      • Etiopía Kolla Bolcha
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      • Etiopía Genji Challa
    • Kenia >
      • Kenia Mchana Natural
      • Kenia Mugaya AB
      • Kenia Kaganda PB
      • Kenia Getuya AA
      • Kenia Gachami AB
      • Kenia Kiagundu AA
      • Kenia Karimikui AA
      • Kenia Nyeri AB
    • Ruanda >
      • Ruanda Muhororo FW
      • Ruanda Gasharu Natural
      • Ruanda Muhororo Natural
      • Ruanda Muhororo Anaeróbico Natural
      • Ruanda Gasharu Anaeróbico Natural
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      • Sumatra Bies Awan
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spanish

A LOGISTICAL NIGHTMARE: Why did it take Kenya so long to get to Barcelona?

7/19/2024

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The situation in the Red Sea has become more complex in recent months. To protect their crews, ships and cargo, shipping companies are changing their routes to avoid the Red Sea and go around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of the African continent. However, the risk zone in the Red Sea has expanded and attacks are occurring in areas further from the coast. As a result, ships have to take longer routes, which increases the time and cost of bringing the coffee to Barcelona.
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​Due to the above, the transit time of our shipment from Kenya was extended to 60 days, which is double the usual transit time. Furthermore, upon reaching the Mediterranean, ships are being diverted to ports in Morocco and Spain, which causes serious overcrowding and congestion in container unloading. All major shipping companies are using these ports for transhipments, putting immense pressure on port capacities in the Mediterranean region and pushing them to the limit.

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HOW DO WE SOURCE OUR KENYAN COFFEES?

5/9/2024

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We have lost count of the number of cupping sessions involved in the coffee selection process in Kenya. This process lasts several months and includes a series of quality control measures. In simple terms, the coffees we select undergo five main selection procedures before reaching your roastery.
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​Journey to Origin: This process begins with a visit to cooperatives and a meeting with coffee producers and exporters at origin. Two trips are made; one during the harvest, where no cupping takes place, and another approximately a month when the harvest ends. During this last trip, we cupped around 500 samples per week, which is a pretty intense process. Here the pre-selection is carried out.

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HAVE YOU EVER CUPPED A KENYA NATURAL?

5/9/2024

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Previously in Kenya, the natural method of coffee processing was considered low quality and intended for the local market. The production of this type of coffee was carried out with floating cherries (the least dense) from the double fermentation process, which were placed without the slightest care on African beds at the end of the harvest. This type of coffee in Kenya is known as Mbuni. However, Mchana Estate has transformed this concept by introducing a more careful and balanced technique in the production of natural coffees.
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​Mchana Estate is located in Kiambu County in Kenya. Coffee cherries are harvested between 1800-2150 meters above sea level with an average temperature ranging between 13-25 degrees Celsius. Mchana has a workforce of 172 permanent workers and casual workers vary from 200 to 1,200 per day depending on the season. The largest quantity is produced during the peak harvest season.

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Kenya's coffee farmers' revolution

3/15/2024

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We are in the presence of a revolution, a revolution of farmers! In case you hadn't noticed, revolutions are no longer about warfare. Today revolutions are spiritual, technological or ideological. Furthermore, the leaders no longer die for their cause, but instead, seek refuge in a neighbouring country until the danger passes or they simply change their beliefs. This is precisely what has happened in Kenya, a revolution. The coffee farmer's revolution!
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​Although, according to our records collected over the years, we had established that Kenya was the African country where the best price per kg of cherry was paid (about 1 USD per kg). But the coffee farmers were not happy with that, and who is? We all want more, it's part of our human nature. The problem here was not greed, but rather that many of them did not generate enough income to cover their production costs. This resulted in many of them giving up coffee, in favour of more profitable crops such as avocado or macadamia.

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THE MYTHS OF KENYAN COFFEE

3/15/2024

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As we prepare to receive a new harvest of Kenyan coffee, we realise that there are several misconceptions associated with Kenyan coffee, let's review the most common ones:
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1.- There is a misconception that Kenyan coffees are too acidic and unsuitable for use in espresso or milk-based drinks. However, this is simply not true. The acidity level of a coffee can be controlled by adjusting the roast profile. Although some coffees have a higher natural acidity, this can always be reduced by roasting if necessary.

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THE KENYAN DILEMMA

2/22/2024

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As of today, we are informed that some milling facilities are operational but are experiencing significant delays. We plan to complete the selection process by the end of February and start milling in March. Our target is to have the coffee in Barcelona by April. However, there may be unforeseen delays, so we suggest you stay informed and caffeinated.
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​Kenyan coffee has always been highly valued by roasters and importers, and international prices serve as a benchmark for the local price on the Nairobi Coffee Exchange. However, the coffee sector is currently struggling and in need of renewal, as more and more farmers abandon coffee farming in favour of better-paying enterprises such as real estate and avocado cultivation. The government is working to halt the decline, as there are concerns that the once-thriving coffee sub-sector has lost its lustre.

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KENYA HARVEST UPDATE, THE END OF THE NAIROBI COFFEE EXCHANGE?

11/10/2023

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As the new harvest begins in Kenya, it is always important to dive into the complex relationship between coffee, politics, climate change, industry trends and international trade. The harvest has started this November at a very slow pace, and shows great potential for western coffees, i.e., the Bungoma region and its surroundings. In addition, the big news is a new government proposing deep structural changes to the industry at different levels, large millers and traders, the Nairobi Coffee Exchange and the cooperatives.
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​In Kenya, there are three major coffee trading companies: Sucafina, Ecom and NKG. These companies also own factories and marketing agencies that were formed in accordance with government regulations, which required that a company could only engage in marketing, milling or exporting if it had companies dedicated solely to that particular service. With the current reforms, these companies lost their licences and were required to apply for a licence for a single service, e.g., marketing only.

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KENYA 2022: IS 1 USD PER 1 Kg OF CHERRY POSSIBLE?

5/26/2022

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Things are changing for the better in Kenya, the average price of coffee cherries has increased from USD 0.45 per kg of cherry in 2016/2017 to USD 0.80 per kg of cherry in the year 2020/2021, a 78% grow! But what has happened in the year 2021/2022?
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​According to information from the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCI), coffee production increased by 64% in the 2021/2022 harvest, compared to the previous year, and income increased by 90% in the same period. This is the result of a lower supply to the global market, because in Brazil, the harsh weather conditions caused up to 20% of the entire harvest to be lost in the last season. And in Ethiopia, the world's fifth largest producer, agricultural activities have been interrupted by the conflict between the government and the militia in the Tigray region.

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WHY KENYAN FARMERS ARE GRAFTING RUIRU 11 WITH SL 28?

5/24/2022

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Grafting is a horticultural technique whereby plant tissues are joined together to continue growing together. The upper part of the combined plant is called the stem, while the lower part is called the rootstock.
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​The Ruiru 11 variety was released in 1985. The name of the variety has the prefix "Ruiru" which refers to the location of the Kenya Coffee Research Station where the variety was developed. The variety is not only resistant to CBD and CLR, but is also compact, allowing farmers to intensify production per unit of land.

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KENYA'S 5 STEPS TOWARDS QUALITY

4/26/2022

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​It is frequently pointed out that Kenyan coffees are the best in the world. Also, that its cup profile is unique and that it must always be within certain parameters (blackcurrant, berries, winey, juicy), or else it would not be a good example of a good Kenyan coffee. It seems that the industry has preconceptions about what is a good coffee, and what flavors should be obtained from a certain origin; as if the production of coffee were an exact formula, similar to a highly efficient factory where economies of scale are generated and from which the same result is always obtained.

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Copyright ©2025 | Kilimanjaro Specialty Coffees España S.L.U. All Rights Reserved.
  • What We Do
  • Que Hacemos
  • Origins
    • Ethiopia >
      • Ethiopia Oba Toli Natural
      • Ethiopia Kolla Bolcha
      • Ethiopia Nano Challa
      • Ethiopia Kenisa
      • Ethiopia Genji Challa
    • Kenya >
      • Kenya Mchana Natural
      • Kenya Mugaya AB
      • Kenya Kaganda PB
      • Kenya Getuya AA
      • Kenya Gachami AB
      • Kenya Kiagundu AA
      • Kenya Karimikui AA
    • Rwanda >
      • Rwanda Muhororo FW
      • Rwanda Gasharu Natural
      • Rwanda Muhororo Natural
      • Rwanda Muhororo Anaerobic Natural
      • Rwanda Gasharu Anaerobic Natural
    • Sumatra >
      • Sumatra Orang Utan
      • Sumatra Bies Awan
      • Sumatra Atu Lintang
  • Orígenes
    • Etiopía >
      • Etiopía Oba Toli Natural
      • Etiopía Kolla Bolcha
      • Etiopía Nano Challa
      • Etiopía Kenisa
      • Etiopía Genji Challa
    • Kenia >
      • Kenia Mchana Natural
      • Kenia Mugaya AB
      • Kenia Kaganda PB
      • Kenia Getuya AA
      • Kenia Gachami AB
      • Kenia Kiagundu AA
      • Kenia Karimikui AA
      • Kenia Nyeri AB
    • Ruanda >
      • Ruanda Muhororo FW
      • Ruanda Gasharu Natural
      • Ruanda Muhororo Natural
      • Ruanda Muhororo Anaeróbico Natural
      • Ruanda Gasharu Anaeróbico Natural
      • Ruanda Macuba
      • Ruanda Ngororero
    • Sumatra >
      • Sumatra Orang Utan
      • Sumatra Bies Awan
      • Sumatra Atu Lintang
  • Education
  • Educación
  • Contact
  • Contacto
  • Home Roaster Store
    • Green Coffee
    • Brewing Tools
    • Cupping Tools
    • Roasting Tools
  • Tienda del Home Roaster
    • Café Verde
    • Artículos de Brew
    • Artículos de Cata
    • Artículos de tueste