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Kenya Coffee Regions Solai Altitude: Kabazi town 2210m, 7250 ft On a high plateau between 2200m and 2400m, this area has several large estates, and is a little way from the other main producing areas. This area is synonymous with the type Solai.
Nyeri Altitude: Nyeri town 1778m, 5830 ft A hundred miles north of Nairobi, Nyeri is traditionally known as the home of Kenya’s ‘Black Gold’ – coffee. This region borders the Aberdare National Park to the West, and Mount Kenya National Park to the east. Nyeri's production comes entirely from smallholder subsistence farmers who grow coffee as a supplementary cash crop. As one of the highest grown coffees, these coffees are often not blended, but sold as single lots, their origin known by the demarcation in the auction catalogue.
Muranga Altitude: Muranga town 1585m, 5200 ft Once a thriving coffee area, this area has seen a decline in production in recent years due to competition from other crops for the arable land. However, it remains one of the best respected areas in terms of quality. Like Nyeri, production from this area comes entirely from co-operatives.
Kiambu Altitude: Kiambu town 1716m, 5630 ft When Fathers of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit brought Arabica trees from Ethiopia in 1893 to plant them for the first time in Kenya, they did so in Kiambu. Lying only 12 kilometres from Nairobi, this area is predominantly Estate production. The distinct citrus grapefruit flavour from this region is known as the 'Upper Kiambu' flavour profile. This is also where Karen Blixen established her famous coffee farm, at the foot of the Ngong hills.
Meru Situated on the rolling hills of the eastern Mt. Kenya slopes, Meru boasts being the largest producer of Kenyan coffee. Co-operatives have a strong hold in Meru and the coffee has
Embu Altitude: Embu Town 1426 m, 4680 ft Driving northeast from Thika toward the south-eastern slopes of Mt.Kenya one reaches Embu where coffee is the heart and soul of its people. 75% of the income of the area is generated by Kenya’s “Black Gold”. Production is Embu is the domain of the co-operatives, and the area is famed for its quality. Embu has the distinction of producing the highest percentage of AA
Kirinyaga Altitude: Kerugoya town 1875m, 6150 ft On the southern slopes of Mount Kenya, Kirinyaga is one of the best known regions for coffee production in Kenya. It is dominated by smallholders, cultivating small plots on the lower
Machakos Altitude: Kangundo Town 1722m, 5650 ft Nestled on the lower slopes of Ol Donyo Sapuk hill, this is some of the lowest grown Kenyan coffee. It has a balanced cup, without the sharp acidity in the other areas. However, during the fly crop, this coffee comes into its own, with a better cup than found elsewhere. |
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