Product 02 · Export from Kenya

Kenya AA Coffee Exporter

Kenyan Arabica is one of the most sought-after coffees in the world — famous for its blackcurrant and citrus acidity, juicy body and clean, wine-like finish.

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Overview

Kenya grows exclusively Arabica coffee, mainly on the slopes of Mt Kenya, the Aberdare Ranges, Mt Elgon and the Rift Valley at 1,400–2,200 m. Coffee is produced by smallholders delivering cherry to cooperative-owned wet mills (factories) and by private estates. Fully washed processing with double fermentation and soaking gives Kenyan coffee its famous clarity.

We supply green coffee through the Nairobi Coffee Exchange and the direct-sales ('second window') channel, with full traceability down to factory, cooperative or estate. Roasted coffee and private-label packs are available through partner roasters.

Typical buyers: Coffee roasters, specialty and commercial green coffee importers, distributors and private-label brands.

Types, varieties, grades & specifications

7 types available. Specifications are typical; exact parameters are confirmed per lot on the quotation and certificate of analysis.

Type 1 of 7

Kenya AA (screen 17/18)

Largest bold beans; the flagship grade with intense acidity and complex fruit.

AA is Kenya's top screen grade: the largest, densest beans, retained on screen 17 and 18 after washing, drying and milling. High-grown AA from Nyeri and Kirinyaga is renowned for vibrant, juicy acidity, with notes of blackcurrant, grapefruit, tomato and red berries, a syrupy body and a long, clean finish. Specialty AA lots are sold with full factory or estate traceability and cupping notes.

Typical uses & buyers

Specialty single-origin roasts
Premium filter and pour-over
Light-to-medium roast competition coffees
High-end espresso blends for brightness

Sample: $12.00/kg (indicative) Quote this type Order sample

Specifications

Species	Coffea arabica
Varietals	SL28, SL34, Ruiru 11, Batian
Process	fully washed, double fermented, soaked, sun-dried on raised beds
Screen size	17/18 (≥ 6.75 mm)
Moisture	10–12%
Water activity	≤ 0.60
Defects	≤ 5 full defects / 300 g (specialty)
Bean density	high (grown 1,500–2,000 m)
Cup profile	blackcurrant, citrus, winey acidity, syrupy body
Cup score	84–90+ SCA (lot dependent)
Packing	60 kg jute bags + GrainPro liner
Shelf life (green)	approx. 12 months in good storage

Type 2 of 7

Kenya AB (screen 15/16)

Slightly smaller beans; the largest volume grade, excellent for single origin and blends.

AB combines screen sizes 15 and 16 and accounts for the largest share of Kenya's crop. It offers the same washed Kenyan character as AA — bright acidity, berry and citrus fruit — often at a more accessible price, making it the most popular grade for roasters building a regular Kenyan offering or adding brightness to blends.

Typical uses & buyers

Single-origin retail coffee
Espresso and filter blends
Café house coffees
Private-label premium ranges

Sample: $10.50/kg (indicative) Quote this type Order sample

Specifications

Species	Coffea arabica
Varietals	SL28, SL34, Ruiru 11, Batian, K7
Process	fully washed, sun-dried
Screen size	15/16 (6.0–6.75 mm)
Moisture	10–12%
Water activity	≤ 0.60
Defects	≤ 8 / 300 g
Cup profile	bright, fruity, sweet, medium-full body
Cup score	83–87 SCA
Packing	60 kg jute bags + liner
Typical 20ft FCL	320 bags (19.2 MT)

Type 3 of 7

Kenya PB (Peaberry)

Single round beans from cherries with one seed; concentrated sweetness and acidity.

Peaberries form when only one seed develops inside the coffee cherry instead of two, producing a small, round bean. They are hand- and machine-sorted from the crop and roast very evenly. Kenyan PB is prized for concentrated sweetness, intense acidity and a lively, juicy cup — a favourite for specialty roasters wanting something distinctive.

Typical uses & buyers

Specialty single-origin
Gift and limited-edition coffees
Even-roasting light profiles
Coffee shops' rotating offerings

Sample: $11.50/kg (indicative) Quote this type Order sample

Specifications

Species	Coffea arabica
Bean shape	single round seed (peaberry)
Process	fully washed
Screen	peaberry graded (≈ 5% of crop)
Moisture	10–12%
Water activity	≤ 0.60
Cup profile	concentrated sweetness, bright acidity, juicy
Cup score	84–88 SCA
Packing	60 kg jute bags or 30 kg vacuum boxes

Type 4 of 7

Kenya E (Elephant)

Very large, often paired beans; limited volumes.

Elephant beans are very large, often irregular beans formed from two interlocked seeds. They are a rare outturn from Kenyan mills, sold in small quantities. When roasted carefully they can deliver a big, sweet cup typical of Kenyan coffee, and are prized by collectors and specialty roasters as a curiosity grade.

Typical uses & buyers

Limited-release specialty coffees
Gift and collector coffees
Blend component for body

Sample: $11.00/kg (indicative) Quote this type Order sample

Specifications

Species	Coffea arabica
Bean	very large, sometimes paired/shell-shaped
Screen	18+
Process	fully washed
Moisture	10–12%
Availability	small lots — limited
Packing	60 kg bags or 30 kg boxes

Type 5 of 7

Kenya C, TT, T (smaller & lighter grades)

Commercial grades for blends and value single-origin programmes.

C is a smaller screen grade (14/15); TT consists of lighter beans removed by air-sorting from AA and AB; T is the smallest, often broken, beans. These grades still carry Kenya's bright washed profile but with less density and complexity. They are excellent value for commercial blends, soluble coffee and price-driven single-origin programmes.

Typical uses & buyers

Commercial and supermarket blends
Value single-origin ranges
Soluble / instant coffee
Cold brew and RTD coffee

Sample: $8.00/kg (indicative) Quote this type Order sample

Specifications

Species	Coffea arabica
Process	fully washed
C — screen 14/15; TT — light density; T — small & broken
Moisture	10–12%
Defects	higher than AA/AB; graded per lot
Cup profile	clean, mildly fruity, lighter body
Packing	60 kg jute bags

Type 6 of 7

Kenya MH / ML (Mbuni — natural)

Dry-processed (natural) coffee; low-cost blend component.

Mbuni is coffee dried naturally in the whole cherry, usually from late-harvested or under-ripe cherries not delivered to wet mills. MH (Mbuni Heavy) and ML (Mbuni Light) are sorted by density. The cup is heavier-bodied, earthy and lower in acidity than washed Kenyan coffee — a low-cost blend component.

Typical uses & buyers

Commercial and value blends
Instant coffee manufacture
Body component for espresso blends

Sample: $6.50/kg (indicative) Quote this type Order sample

Specifications

Species	Coffea arabica
Process	natural (dry, in-cherry)
Grades	MH (heavy), ML (light)
Moisture	10–12.5%
Cup profile	heavier body, earthy, low acidity
Packing	60 kg jute bags

Type 7 of 7

Roasted Coffee — beans or ground (private label)

Roasted to your profile by partner roasters; whole bean or ground, valve bags.

We supply Kenyan coffee roasted to your profile by licensed partner roasters in Nairobi. Coffee can be packed as whole bean or ground to your brewing method, in one-way-valve bags under your brand. Roasted coffee travels best by air or in short sea transits; we roast to order to maximise freshness.

Typical uses & buyers

Private-label supermarket coffee
Hotel, office and café supply
Gift and souvenir coffee
E-commerce coffee brands

Sample: $21.00/kg (indicative) Quote this type Order sample

Specifications

Origin	100% Kenyan Arabica (AA, AB or blend)
Roast	light, medium, medium-dark, dark
Form	whole bean or ground (espresso, filter, French press)
Packing	250 g, 500 g, 1 kg, 5 kg valve bags
Packaging	foil laminate with one-way degassing valve
Labelling	your brand; Kenya origin declared
Shelf life	12 months unopened (whole bean)
MOQ	from 500 kg per profile

Growing & production areas in Kenya

Growing / production area	Altitude	Notes
Nyeri (Aberdares & Mt Kenya West)	1,600–2,000 m	Classic Kenyan profile — blackcurrant, tomato-like acidity; famous factories in Mathira and Tetu.
Kirinyaga	1,500–1,900 m	Bright, juicy coffees from volcanic soils on Mt Kenya's southern slopes.
Murang'a & Kiambu	1,400–2,000 m	Balanced, sweet coffees; historic estates near Thika and Ruiru.
Embu & Meru	1,400–1,900 m	Fruity, sweet lots from Mt Kenya East cooperatives.
Mt Elgon (Bungoma, Trans Nzoia)	1,600–2,200 m	Rich body and floral notes from the western highlands.
Nakuru, Kisii & Machakos	1,400–2,000 m	Emerging regions offering good value lots.

Aerial view of rows of coffee shrubs on a plantation

Coffee beans on a wooden table with a cup

Trade information

Season

Main crop harvest October–December (shipping from January); fly crop April–June (shipping from July).

Minimum order

Specialty micro-lots from 1 bag (60 kg). Commercial: 1 × 20ft FCL (approx. 320 bags / 19.2 MT).

Packaging

60 kg jute bags with GrainPro / hermetic liners
30 kg vacuum boxes for micro-lots
Roasted: one-way valve bags, retail or bulk

Logistics & Incoterms

Sea freight from Mombasa; dry containers with liner/kraft paper
Air freight for samples and micro-lots via JKIA
Incoterms: FOB Mombasa, CIF, DAP, FCA Nairobi

Certifications

Rainforest Alliance
Fairtrade
Organic (selected cooperatives)
C.A.F.E. Practices on request
EUDR traceability (farm geolocation)

Export documents

Commercial invoice & packing list
Bill of Lading / Air Waybill
Certificate of Origin & ICO Certificate of Origin
Phytosanitary certificate (KEPHIS)
AFA Coffee Directorate export permit & sale contract
Pre-shipment sample & cupping notes
EUDR due-diligence data for EU buyers

HS codes: 0901.11 (green coffee, not decaffeinated) · 0901.21/0901.22 (roasted)

Export destinations for Kenyan coffee

Market-specific guidance on ports, transit times and import requirements.

🇩🇪Coffee to GermanyHamburg (DEHAM)Sea 25–35 days · Air 1 day 🇧🇪Coffee to BelgiumAntwerp-Bruges (BEANR)Sea 24–34 days · Air 1 day 🇺🇸Coffee to United StatesNew York / New Jersey (USNYC)Sea 30–42 days · Air 1–2 days 🇨🇭Coffee to SwitzerlandVia Antwerp or Rotterdam, then rail/barge to Basel (CHBSL)Sea 30–40 days · Air 1 day 🇳🇱Coffee to NetherlandsRotterdam (NLRTM)Sea 22–32 days · Air 8–9 hours

Frequently asked questions

Can I cup samples before I buy?

Yes. Request a sample on our quote form — sample orders start from 100 kg per type, and the sample cost is calculated automatically. Small pre-shipment cupping samples of approved contract lots are sent free to confirmed buyers.

Do you sell single-farm or factory micro-lots?

Yes. We source named factory and estate lots with full traceability, from a single 60 kg bag upward.

Is your coffee EUDR compliant?

We collect farm geolocation and supply-chain data so EU operators can file their due-diligence statements under the EU Deforestation Regulation.

Buyer guides

Guides for importers

Product Buying Guides

Kenya AA Coffee Supplier: Buy Green Arabica Beans Wholesale (AA, AB, PB)

Everything roasters and green-coffee importers need to buy Kenyan Arabica: grades, regions, harvest timing, traceability and how to get offers.

Read guide →

Sourcing Countries

How to Import from Kenya: Best Products, Verified Suppliers & Shipping Guide

A buyer's overview of Kenya's top export products, how sourcing works and how goods get from Kenyan farms and factories to your port.

Read guide →

Sourcing Countries

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Burundi Specialty Coffee Supplier: Importing Washed Bourbon Coffee & Tea from Burundi

Juicy, sweet washed Bourbon coffees from Kayanza and Ngozi — and how to bring them to your roastery.

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Import How-To Guides

EUDR Compliance for Coffee & Cocoa from East Africa: What EU Importers Need

What EUDR means for your coffee and cocoa sourcing, and the data we provide with every lot.

Read guide →

Import How-To Guides

How to Order Product Samples from Kenya & East Africa: Pricing, Invoice and Shipping

Exactly how our sample orders work — from calculation to invoice, payment and courier.

Read guide →

Ready to import from Kenya?

Tell us the product, variety, quantity, Incoterm (FOB / CIF / CFR / DAP) and your destination port or airport. We reply with a formal quotation, usually within one business day.

Request a Quotation Order a Sample