KENYA kiunyu AA
General Information
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Origin: Kenya
County: Kirinyaga Cooperative: Karithathi FCS Washing Station: Kiunyu Farmers: 1600 active members (656 female, 944 male) Cultivar: SL28, SL34, Batian, Ruiru 11 Altitude: 1670 masl Process: Fully washed with double fermentation Harvest: November 2025 - January 2026 Cherry Price | FOB Price: 6.37 USD/Kg | 10.8 USD/Kg Screen | Moisture | Density: 17-18 | 10.7% | 0.728 g/ml Packaging: 30 Kg VP box Score: 87.7 Notes: Jazmin, blueberry, black tea, peach |
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TRACEABILITYKiunyu is a well-regarded washing station located in Kirinyaga County, on the slopes of Mount Kenya. Part of the Karithathi Farmers Cooperative Society, the factory is known for producing clean and consistent AA and AB grade coffees. It receives cherries from around 1,600 smallholder farmers who are members of the cooperative, many of whom have been supplying Kiunyu for years.
The farms supplying Kiunyu sit at altitudes between 1,600 and 1,700 masl. The region benefits from rich volcanic soils and a favourable microclimate that supports the growth of the classic Kenyan varieties: SL28, SL34, Ruiru 11, and Batian. These small plots, often intercropped with bananas and shade trees, produce cherries that are carefully harvested and delivered daily to the factory during the main and early crop seasons. At the factory, the cherries undergo a traditional fully washed process with double fermentation. This includes pulping, overnight dry fermentation, thorough washing, and soaking for 24–48 hours before being dried on raised African beds. The resulting parchment maintains excellent quality and clarity, which is further preserved through the Kenyan grading system. What truly sets Kiunyu apart is its strong traceability. After drying, the parchment is delivered to an approved dry mill where it is hulled, graded by size and density, and assigned a unique Outturn Number (ON). This system allows every lot to be traced back specifically to Kiunyu Factory and Karithathi Cooperative. Specialty buyers can therefore purchase distinct lots with full transparency — knowing the exact factory, cooperative, and harvest season — making Kiunyu a reliable choice for roasters seeking consistent, traceable Kenyan coffees. COFFEE GRADES IN KENYAEvery coffee farm in the world — even the most reputable ones — produces a mix of high-quality, medium, and lower-quality beans. Therefore, separating the denser, larger, and better beans from the lighter and defective ones is essential to maximising the producer’s financial returns.
In Kenya, once a lot has been processed, it is delivered in parchment to the Marketing Agent (MA) by the producer or cooperative. The MA then mills and grades the coffee by shape and size, assigning each lot a unique Outturn Number (ON). This ON is crucial for ensuring transparency and traceability throughout the system. Although the lot now has a unique Outturn Number, it is divided into several different grades based on bean size:
Given the high volume of samples and limited time available, we focus our attention primarily on the AA, AB, and PB grades. Thanks to the centralised and highly efficient system of the Nairobi Coffee Exchange, this focused approach allows us to discover exceptional “hidden jewels” from remote areas of the country — coffees that would be almost impossible to find by simply travelling around Kenya. In simple terms, the Nairobi Coffee Exchange functions like a weekly Cup of Excellence, creating healthy competition and rewarding the best lots with higher prices. THE EVOLUTION OF KENYAN COFFEE VARIETIESKenya was one of the last African countries to be introduced to coffee. Yet today, it is renowned for producing some of the most delicious and highest-quality coffees in the world.
The main contributors to this reputation are the famous coffee varieties SL28 and SL34. Developed by the Scott Agricultural Laboratories in the 1930s (hence the “SL” prefix), these two varieties are celebrated for their exceptional cup quality, bright acidity, and complex flavours. They are also remarkably drought-tolerant, capable of surviving extended dry periods while still producing good yields. However, despite their many strengths, both SL28 and SL34 are highly susceptible to major diseases, particularly coffee leaf rust and coffee berry disease (CBD). In recent years, climate change has severely affected Kenya’s traditional cultivars. Changing rainfall patterns and rising temperatures have led to increased disease pressure and lower harvests. To address these challenges, the Kenya Coffee Research Foundation introduced new, more resilient varieties: Ruiru 11 (released in 1985) and Batian (released in 2010). Ruiru 11 offers several advantages for farmers: strong resistance to coffee berry disease and leaf rust, significantly higher yields, and a compact growth habit that allows for denser planting. Batian is also highly resistant to pests and diseases, delivers higher yields, and produces larger beans than many other wide Kenyan varieties. Today, many Ruiru 11 plants in Kenya are grafted onto SL28 rootstock. Grafting is a horticultural technique in which tissues from two different plants are joined so they continue to grow together as one. In this case, the upper part (scion) is Ruiru 11 — chosen for its disease resistance, high productivity, and compact structure — while the lower part (rootstock) is SL28, which provides a deep, robust root system that improves nutrient and water absorption, enhancing overall plant resilience and cup quality. |
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