Kenyan coffees are famous for their wild, juicy acidity. However, the Kenya Gatuya AA from the NABR roastery shows that this origin can also reveal a delightfully sweet side. The cup opens with a caramel note, followed by fresh plums and nectarines, so the result is more reminiscent of a fruity dessert. The elegance hasn’t disappeared; it’s just taken on a rounder profile. A cupping score of 87.5 points ranks this lot among the very best, and the AA designation—reserved for the largest beans of the harvest—gives it an official seal of approval. If you’ve been putting off trying Kenyan coffee because of its acidity, this is the perfect place to start.
The beans come from the Muranga region on the western slopes of the Aberdare Mountains in central Kenya. The area is renowned for its fertile red soils, higher elevation, and cooler climate—a combination in which Arabica ripens slowly and develops both sweetness and complexity. The lot was processed at the Gatuya Coffee Factory, one of two washing stations operated by the New Murarandia Farmers Cooperative Society. The cooperative brings together approximately 3 ,500 smallholder farmers who cultivate tiny plots ranging from 0.2 to 0.3 hectares and bring their hand-picked cherries directly to the station. The coffee trees grow at an elevation of around 1,850 meters above sea level, and alongside the legendary SL28 and SL34 varieties, you’ll also find the more resilient, newer cultivars Batian and Ruiru 11.
After delivery to the station, the cherries underwent careful sorting and classic washed processing. The pulp is removed from the beans; the remaining sweet layer decomposes overnight in fermentation tanks; and subsequent thorough washing rinses away anything that might cloud the final flavor. The washed process allows the variety and terroir to fully express themselves—nothing is hidden behind anything else. Combined with the high altitude and rich soils, this results in the kind of cup you’d expect from top-tier Kenyan coffee: clean, lively, and distinctly fruity, with acidity that supports the profile but doesn’t take center stage.