Kenya Kii Kirinyaga (Filter)

The Kii factory sits on the slopes of Mount Kenya in Kirinyaga — one of Kenya's most celebrated growing regions, soaked by 50 inches of rain a year, fed by rivers running through rich volcanic soil. Farmers in this region have been growing coffee since 1953. Most own around 400 trees on less than a third of a hectare. Every cherry gets delivered to Kii the same day it's picked.

This is an AA grade lot — Kenya's largest screen size, selected for the biggest, densest, most developed beans in the harvest. In the cup: lime, toffee and blackberry. Sparkling acidity, candy-like sweetness and a clean, juicy finish that keeps going.

Bright. Complex. Unmistakably Kenyan.

Flavour notes

Lime. Toffee. Blackberry.

Washed process. AA grade. Sparkling acidity. Candy-like sweetness.

You've got questions, we've got answers.

What does AA mean?

Kenya grades its coffee by bean size, with AA being the largest screen size available — only the biggest, heaviest, most developed beans make the cut. Larger beans tend to roast more evenly and develop more complexity in the cup. It's not a guarantee of quality on its own, but combined with great growing conditions, good varieties and careful processing, AA lots consistently produce some of the most impressive Kenyan cups available. This is one of them.

Why does Kenyan coffee taste like this?

Two reasons that work together. The SL28 and SL34 varieties grown here are among the most prized in specialty coffee — developed specifically for Kenyan terroir, they're the reason Kenyan coffee has that signature bright, complex, fruit-forward character that no other origin quite replicates. Then there's the processing: after fermentation, Kii's beans soak in clean water for up to 24 hours — a step unique to Kenya that allows amino acids and proteins in each bean to develop fully, directly building the complex fruit flavours the region is famous for. The lime and blackberry in your cup aren't an accident. They're the result of decades of precision.

Who grows this coffee?

1,215 smallholder farmers who are members of the Rungeto Farmers Cooperative Society, each delivering cherry to the Kii factory on the day it's picked. The cooperative runs three mills, is managed by an elected seven-person board and actively invests in quality improvement programs — because better coffee means better prices for every member. Buying this coffee puts money directly into those farmers' pockets.

Is this espresso or filter?

Filter is where it really sings. The lime brightness and blackberry complexity open up beautifully with longer brew times — V60, Kalita, Aeropress and batch brew will all reward you. The toffee sweetness gives it enough body to feel satisfying rather than thin.

Will it be too acidic?

It's lively — this is a coffee with real brightness and the lime note earns its place. But it's balanced by toffee sweetness and blackberry depth, not fighting them. Think sparkling rather than sharp. If you've tried Kenyan coffee before and loved it, this will hit the same notes but with more complexity. If it's your first Kenya, this is a very good introduction.

Roasted fresh, shipped fast.

Roasted five days a week, dispatched daily before 1pm. Every bag stamped with the roast date — because a microlot this carefully grown and processed deserves to arrive at its absolute freshest.

No grinder? No worries.

Choose your brew method at checkout and we'll grind to suit on our commercial grinder. Filter grind recommended for this one.

Origin: Kenya

Region: Kirinyaga, Mount Kenya

Factory: Kii — Rungeto Farmers Cooperative Society

Variety: Batian, SL28, SL34, Ruiru 11

Grade: AA

Process: Washed

Altitude: 1,600–1,900 MASL

Harvest: October – December

Notes: Lime, Toffee, Blackberry