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Kenya

The country is famous for its bright and juicy coffees, but buyers often don't get the full picture. Finding the right partners at origin is the first step to change that and discover new and unique flavours from producers who are holding their ground against the takeover from other crops and real estate.

Kenyan coffee is so good that many roasters jump on offer lists as soon as they come out. There's a quiet race for the best lots, which change every year. This is mostly because of the country's auction system, but it doesn’t have to be that way anymore. Since the 2007-2008 harvest, Kenyan farmers have been able to sell directly to roasters. This lets buyers explore new regions and flavours, and challenge the dominance of big exporting companies.

Verified Sellers from

Kenya

Discover the right supplier for your roastery, from innovative farmers and independent exporters to certified cooperatives. Volume lots, micro-lots, blends or single varieties... You'll find what you're looking for.

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Sakami Coffee

Single Farm

Sakami is a new coffee plantation located at the slopes of mount Elgon in Western Kenya at 1800 m altitude. We grow Ruiru 11, Batian and SL28. The latter coming to production in 2018. We also process neighbouring small farmers SL28. We produce fully washed and natural and can make the process by orders of roasters. From next harvest we are also hulling and polishing at the farm, so we have full control of the quality from flowers to green beans. Currently we have 50000 coffee trees growing in the shades of macadamia trees. This year our production was 8000 kgs and expect next harvest to be 15-20000 kgs and process another 20-30000 kgs small scale farmers coffee. We still have 800 kgs of natural left for sale from last harvest. It has been slowly dried under 50% shade nets on drying beds for 4 weeks. For this lot we have used uniform handsorted fully ripe berries only.

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Vava Coffee

Representante Comercial
FairTrade, FairTrade, Rainforest Alliance, Rainforest Alliance

Vava Coffee is a Certified B-Corp with a social enterprise business model that has a network of coffee producers in different regions of East Africa.Vava coffee exports, roasts and consults on coffee value chains, the company aims to contribute to better future prospects for coffee communities   and the industry as a whole. We are geared towards sustainable livelihoods for the people and communities we work with. Our vision is to challenge the status quo and promote positive social disruption within the Coffee industry. Located in the picturesque Kajiado county inhabited by the calm yet courageous Maasai community, we work in this atypical coffee growing region to influence and transform communities by providing economic empowerment opportunities using coffee - we do this through trade, education and capacity building with a sharp focus on elevating the opportunities for women and girls in these communities.

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Chepsangor Hills Coffee

Fazenda única, Grupo de Fazendas

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LOT TWENTY COFFEE FARMERS SERVICES

Other

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Mara Coffee Exports Limited

Single Farm, Mill, Commercial Representative, Exporter

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Great Rift Coffee

Fazenda única, Grupo de Fazendas, Moinho, Exportador

Great Rift Coffee traces its roots back to 2017, when our founder, David Muge, returned to Kenya after 35 years in the UK. Starting with a modest coffee farm in Nandi Hills, Kenya, inherited from his mother, he quickly recognized the challenges faced by farmers in this emerging coffee region. Determined to make a difference, he embarked on a mission to support local farmers by establishing a dry mill facility, built by Kenyans for Kenyans. The local community embraced this initiative wholeheartedly, eagerly joining forces with the new enterprise that had sprung up in their region. At this juncture I stepped into a leadership role within the company, dedicated to empowering farmers to the best of my ability. We expanded our efforts beyond the mill, setting up washing stations, providing agronomic support, and distributing seedlings to farmers. Our goal was not only to enhance coffee quality but also to ensure the sustainability of the industry. Returning to the farm, we focused on perfecting coffee quality and expanding our estate. Today, our farm spans 550 acres, with 120 acres dedicated to productive coffee trees. Embracing a holistic approach, we have also introduced indigenous trees, bee hives, and macadamia plants to our estate. Uplifting the community has always been a cornerstone of Great Rift Coffee’s mission. We are committed to making the West and North Rift regions synonymous with the exceptional coffee we all cherish. To achieve this vision, we prioritise farmer education, conducting regular training sessions at both our farm and dry mill. We firmly believe in an end-to-end integration model, providing farmers with seedlings from our nursery and encouraging them to utilise our wet and dry processing facilities. Through these collaborative efforts and the unwavering determination of our local community, we have achieved remarkable success, producing numerous 87+ coffee lots using alternative processing techniques, alongside the beloved washed coffees we're renowned for. At Great Rift Coffee, we are not just in the business of producing exceptional coffee – we're committed to creating positive change, one cup at a time.

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Ko-kos Coffee Farm

Fazenda única

Whereas we are endowed with perfect natural growing conditions, strict adherence to the best coffee production practices is our core principle. We maintain the highest quality standards in the industry and have an unwavering commitment to sustainable agriculture. At Ko-kos Coffee, we seek to foster friendship with our Roasters, and we wish to align with them without much hassle. As a coffee lover and a ''Seller'' who has lived in Europe for more than 10 years, I confirm that I can easily relate to the challenges often faced by roasters and consumers alike, in securing quality beans; communication. This is bound to change. It is worth noting that at Ko-kos Coffee, we want to bridge the gap as we Hand-pick for you.

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Kenya Co-operative Coffee Exporters Limited

Cooperativa, Exportador
FairTrade, FairTrade, FairTrade, Rainforest Alliance, Rainforest Alliance

Kenya has a rich coffee-growing tradition, known for its high-altitude farms and the bright acidity of the cup profile. Coffee is grown in 32 of Kenya’s 47 counties, at altitudes ranging from 1,400 to 2,200 meters above sea level. Most coffee comes from the former Western, Central, and Rift Valley provinces. But these are broad regions that don’t portray the country’s full diversity. Some new regional names to look for include Embu, Meru, Kitale, Nandy Hills, and Kericho. 

Unlike what most believe, there are two harvest seasons, from April to June and October to December, Most coffee is Fully Washed, and exportable grades include AA, AB, and PB. SL 28, SL 34, K7, and Ruiru 11 are some of the most common coffee varieties grown here.

The journey of Kenyan coffee starts with around 790,000 smallholders and 3,000 coffee estates. Smallholders, averaging 0.2 hectares, produce less than 2 bags per year, while estates, spanning 2 to 20 hectares, yield much more. Despite this, production declined by over 60% since the 1980s due to price volatility, climate change, and the high cost of inputs. This shift has opened up land for other crops, like avocados, and real estate, further impacting coffee production.

Coffee trade in Kenya

Kenyan coffee is marketed through auctions and direct sales. The Nairobi Coffee Exchange runs weekly auctions, but direct sales (the “second window”) have been available since 2007/08, allowing producers to sell directly to foreign buyers. However, over 90% of coffee still goes through auctions, as many farmers are part of societies and lack the means to process and sell their beans independently. The dominance of large multinational companies complicates the market, and buyers often prioritise flavour and convenience over fair trade practices, which challenges the efforts to strengthen the local supply chain.

One of the major issues faced by Kenyan coffee farmers is the historical imbalance between the high prices fetched by exporters and the low prices received by farmers. This has been a significant problem for over 20 years, particularly in Central Kenya. As land becomes more profitable for real estate, many coffee farmers are selling their land. This shift has led to a gradual movement of coffee production towards Eastern and Western Kenya.

The right partners for direct trade 

Kenya's coffee is highly prized but often heavily scrutinised by buyers with strict quality expectations, which supports the traditional auction system and adds a layer between farmers and buyers. Creating direct market routes in Kenya is challenging. That’s why Algrano focuses on independent cooperative societies, small exporters, and farms or estates that can process and sell their coffee directly. Algrano hopes to bring these farms and organisations closer to roasters to support a more sustainable future for Kenyan coffee.

Found a coffee you love?

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