KENYA'S COFFEE GRADES

After milling, green coffee is graded and classified for export. The aim is to produce homogenous commercial lots that meet defined quality criteria, and hence facilitate a fair system of pricing. However, there is no universally accepted grading and classification system for green coffee.

Each producing country has developed its own classification and grade charts, which are often also used to set minimum standards for export. Currently, there are 8 Kenyan coffee bean grades: The grades of Kenya coffee beans include: Kenya E (Elephant Bean), Kenya PB (Peaberry), Kenya AA, Kenya AB, Kenya C, Kenya TT, Kenya T, and Kenya MH/ML.

As some of the world’s finest gourmet coffees, Kenyan coffees are carefully graded after harvest. The coffee beans are separated (sorted) and rated by bean size as well as shape, color, and density, with the general assumption being that bigger coffee beans are higher in quality. The largest and best coffee beans from Kenya are graded Kenya AA.

A general rules with Kenya coffee beans is that bigger beans have more essential oils that enhance the tastes and aromas.

In reality, grading and classification systems are usually based on some, or all, of the following criteria. Invariably this means that most systems are often very detailed and diverse, and open to confusion and mis-interpretation regarding the ‘transferibility’ of certain descriptions and terminologies between producing countries. These factors include:- Altitude, region, botanical variety, preparation method (wet vs dry), bean (screen) size, bean shape and colour, number of defects, permissible defects, bean density and cup quality

Other factors are also important in determining the beans’ quality, and cuppers (professional coffee tasters) debate whether bean size necessarily means a better quality of roasted, ground, brewed Kenyan coffee.  Nevertheless, sorting is done by size, and the screen size Kenya AA is the highest sorting beans just over one-fourth inch in diameter. A bit smaller is the Kenyan AB grade, which is regarded by some as a better bean than the AA. Grade E or Elephant grade coffee beans are the largest grade of Kenyan beans. This category includes Kenya PB or Kenya Peaberry beans and Kenya AA beans. Kenya AA beans are the largest Kenya coffee beans money can buy.

Why is grade important? The grade determines the flavor profile of one cup of Kenyan coffee versus another. Kenya AA beans, for instance, are typically sweeter than, say, Kenya MH/ML beans, which are low-quality and tend to taste sour.