The first Zambian coffee at Kmen—and one that, if tasted blind, you might mistake for a juicy Kenyan. The Lupili AA from Kmen Coffee Roasters is a clean and fresh pour-over in which the flavor of elderflower lemonade takes center stage. This is complemented by sweet-and-sour kiwi and the sparkling acidity of red currants, making the resulting cup light, lively, and beautifully fruity. Distinctive freshness meets pleasant sweetness here, creating a profile that feels like a little piece of summer saved for cooler days.
The beans come from the Lupili Estate in the Kasama region of northern Zambia, where a group of local farmers is involved in production. Coffee trees of the SL28, Castillo, Catimor 129, and F6 varieties grow here in the shade of trees at an elevation of 1,300 to 1,600 meters above sea level. The local microclimate alternates between hot days and significantly cooler nights, causing the cherries to ripen more slowly. Added to this is deep soil rich in iron and organic matter. The harvest takes place from May through August, during which pickers make repeated passes through the plantations to hand-select only the optimally ripe cherries.
Lupili AA undergoes a washed processing method. After harvest, the cherries are de-stoned and the pulp is removed, and the kernels are then transferred to fermentation and washing tanks. After thorough drying, the beans undergo mechanical sorting by size and density. Only the largest beans—those that pass through the appropriate sieve and meet the required parameters— are designated as AA. The washed process helps preserve a very clean and distinct profile, in which fresh fruity notes and lively acidity have ample room to fully shine.
- Producer: Lupili Estate
- Altitude: 1, 300–1,600 m above sea level