After a multi-year pause prompted by regulatory changes in Kenya’s coffee sector, we’re delighted to share that NKG Bloom Kenya has resumed its farmer-facing work with coffee cooperatives and producers.
NKG Bloom, Neumann Kaffee Gruppe’s global initiative to ensure future green coffee supplies, provides producers and cooperatives with practical services and resources to help them improve their coffee quality, productivity and business profitability.
When it launched in Kenya in 2019, NKG Bloom offered agronomic training, digital record keeping, quality fertilizers and other inputs, micro-financing and long-term technical support.
In 2023, however, the Kenyan government introduced reforms that changed how coffee moves from producers to exporters. As the new system took shape, NKG East Africa had to pause its farmer-facing work and restructure its operations to comply with the updated regulations.
Throughout the pause, NKG maintained its relationships with producer partners and continued providing support where possible. Those relationships, and the trust they forged, helped to make the program’s return possible.
What’s Changed?
Due to the new reforms, NKG no longer offers financing in Kenya. The program now focuses on agronomic support, digital tools, technical services and other capacity-building initiatives.
Additionally, NKG has moved away from owning and operating its own mill. Instead, it now works through partnerships that align with Kenya’s revised coffee-marketing system while continuing to connect producers with technical support and market access.
An exciting new addition to NKG Bloom Kenya is the creation of demonstration plots at participating cooperative factories. These working farms will show regenerative agricultural practices under real production conditions, allowing producers to see results before adopting changes on their own farms.
Because regenerative transitions can take several years, the plots will provide practical training, reduce risk and help farmers to develop phased plans. As the coffee matures, the plots will also generate income that the cooperatives can use to reinvest in their infrastructure and services.
Regaining Momentum
With NKG Bloom’s return, NKG East Africa has been hiring more colleagues to expand its field teams, or Farmer Service Units (FSU), which provide producer trainings and on-farm assistance.
The FSUs share good agronomic practices, certification requirements, and education about human rights and labor standards, farm management and coffee quality. Through them, NKG Bloom will also continue to subsidize high-quality seedlings, helping producers to replace aging trees and establish more productive and resilient farms and gardens.
Water management is another growing priority, as unpredictable weather places more pressure on coffee production. The teams will offer support around practices such as mulching, contouring, rainwater harvesting and soil conservation to improve water retention and strengthen long-term resilience.
The Current Harvest
The full impact of these efforts will take time. Investments in seedlings, regenerative farming and technical support deliver gains over several growing seasons. In the meantime, NKG Ibero Kenya continues to source exceptional coffees through its long-standing relationships with producer cooperatives.
According to Daniel Magu, specialty trader at NKG Ibero Kenya, quality is the strongest it has been in several years. Favorable growing conditions produced an unusually high share of premium grades, with about 90% of the crop grading AA or AB, compared with roughly 60% in a typical season.
Production is also expected to rise. After averaging about 650,000 bags annually in recent years, Kenya is now projected to approach 800,000 bags. Strong coffee prices, government efforts to improve transparency and positive early customer feedback are contributing to a renewed confidence in the sector.
Looking Ahead — and Available Now
NKG Bloom coffees are expected to return with the 2026/27 harvest. Since the relaunch, NKG East Africa has established agreements with 13 cooperatives, including Baragwi Farmers’ Cooperative Society, the largest cooperative in Kenya.
Exceptional, current-crop coffees from Kenya are now in our inventory, including distinctive single-factory lots that reflect the quality and character of this year’s harvest. We hope you’ll explore them — and enjoy them! •
Photo caption: Teresia, an agronomist with NKG East Africa, supports the processing team at Thiririka Farmers Society Cooperative. Click here to watch a 2-minute video on Thiririka, and NKG East Africa’s work with them.
