This season in Kenya, the short rains started very early, were heavier than usual and continued through mid December, a few weeks later than typical. While this led to flooding and smaller harvests, cup quality has been incredible. Normally, the best cups arrive late in the season. But our colleagues at Ibero Kenya report receiving “exceptional coffees” from the start. Josh Burdett visited while harvest was underway, selected our microlots and started them on their journey to us.
Another quality surprise this year, Ibero shares, came from the Iyego cooperative, thanks to its exceptional manager, Jacquiline Nyaga. Ibero hosted a cupping and presentation at which Ms. Nyaga learned about floatation tanks and their impact on quality. Within weeks, she had tanks installed at her co-ops, and the Ibero team saw a marked jump in Iyego cup scores.
We’re thrilled with every one of these coffees and can’t wait for you to experience and share them. And ps: If you’re looking for a serious deal, we still have a few bags of last year’s lots, which we just re-cupped and are drinking beautifully.
As ever, please don’t hesitate to get in touch: traders.iacus@nkg.coffee. And of course, the bag numbers below are likely to change, but any trader will be happy to share current information.
2020 Fresh Crop
Co-op Traceable
Kenya Baragwi Guama (NJ 67 bags)
Pineapple, peach, apricot, lemon, honey; nectar-like body, clear, tart acidity.
Kenya Thirikwa Gakuyuini AB (NJ 50 bags)
Lavender, lemon verbena, raspberry; silky body, delicate and balanced.
Kenya Rungeto Kii (NJ 34 bags)
Fruit punch, nectarine, peach, tomato; tea-like body.
Kenya Iyego Marimira AA (NJ 17 bags)
Peach, lemon, florals; juicy acidity, delicate body and mouthfeel.
Kenya Iyego Gatubu (NJ 61 bags)
Lemonade, florals; light body, delicate profile.
Regional
Kenya Nguvu AA Plus (NJ 266 bags, Annex 309 bags) **Best value
Orange, cherry, lemonade; creamy body, winey acidity.
Kenya Savana (NJ 260 bags)
Milk chocolate, plum, herbal; creamy body, winey acidity.
2019 Last Crop (Last Chance)
These coffees are priced to sell and completely delicious. We re-cupped them in late May; the notes below are spot on.
Kenya Barichu Gaturiri AA (NJ 20 bags)
Dark chocolate, raisin, plum, fruity, honey; winey acidity.
Kenya Ruthaka Ruarai (Annex 38 bags)
Peach, caramel, herbal; winey acidity, savory finish.
Kenya Thirikwa Gakuyuini AB (NJ 27 bags)
Cranberry, lemon, milk chocolate, light florals; juicy acidity.
Kenya Savana 2019 (Green Room 9 bags, NJ 2 bags, Nola 6 bags)
Dark chocolate, black cherry, raisin, brown sugar; winey acidity.
Kenya Savana 2019 (NJ 9 bags)
Green tea, lime, citrus acidity, delicate mouthfeel, clean and crisp.
**Some customers are intensely focused on margins, some care intensely about taste and experience, and so many others fall between the extremes, just like our costs and pricing. Going forward, we plan to point out, for those who’d like it to be more clear, which coffees are at the exact intersection of price and quality. Which is to say, the best value. In coffee, that’s not always the priority. But for when it is, now you’ll know. •
