Coffee Industry of Kenya

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Kenya is the 17th largest producer of coffee in the world. The coffee industry of Kenya is noted for its cooperative system of milling, marketing, and auctioning coffee, and for its high percentage of production from small farms. It is estimated that six-million Kenyans are employed directly or indirectly in the coffee industry. The major coffee growing regions in Kenya are the High Plateaus around Mt. Kenya, the Aberdare Range, Kasii, Nyanza, Bungoma, Nakuru and Kericho. The high plateaus of Mount Kenya, plus the acidic soil provide excellent conditions for growing coffee plants. Coffee from Kenya is well known for its intense flavor, full body, and pleasant aroma.

1 History
2 Screen Size
3 See also
4 References

[edit] History

Despite its proximity to Ethiopia (widely believed to be the region from which coffee originated), coffee was not cultivated in Kenya until 1893, when missionaries who called themselves "Fathers of the Holy Spirit" imported coffee trees. These trees, initially from Ethiopia, would be used to develop the French Mission varietal which is predominant in Kenya today.

[edit] Screen Size

While it may be widely known as a type of Kenya coffee, Kenya AA is actually a classification of coffee grown in Kenya. All Kenyan coffee is graded after it is milled. Grades are assigned based on the screen size of the bean. Beans with a screen size of 17 or 18 (17/64 or 18/64 of an inch) are assigned the grade AA, generally the largest bean. While the large bean size is considered by many to be a sign of quality, it is important to note that it is but one of many factors in determining high quality coffee.

[edit] See also

Sasini Tea and Coffee

[edit] References

International Coffee Organization - Exports by Exporting Countries, [1]. Accessed on 14 June 2006.
Overview of the Kenyan coffee industry, [2]. Accessed on 14 June 2006.

Coffee

Facts about coffee: History of coffee | Economics of coffee | Coffee and health

Species and varieties: List of varieties | Coffea arabica: Kenya AA, Kona, Jamaican Blue Mountain | Coffea canephora (robusta): Kopi Luwak

Major chemicals in coffee: Caffeine | Cafestol

Coffee bean processing: Coffee roasting | Home roasting coffee | Decaffeination