Kii AA (Kenya, Washed)

Bringing in springtime with the first Kenyan of 2026, Kii AA is a well-known and loved Kenyan station.

This coffee comes to us from the Kii Factory in Ngairiama, in the Gichugu area of Kirinyaga, Kenya. Alongside the prestigious Karimikui and Kiangoi, Kii is operated by the Rungeto Farmers Cooperative Society. Established in 1953, the cooperative represents thousands of smallholder members, each typically farming around one hectare of land, where coffee is often grown alongside crops for household use. The area is known for its nitrate-rich red volcanic soils, high altitudes of 1,700 to 1,900 masl, and bountiful rainfall, all of which contribute to prime conditions for coffee production.

Ripe coffee cherries are hand-picked by smallholder farmers and delivered to Kii for processing. After arrival, the cherries are pulped and graded by density using water, with the denser beans separated from lower-density floaters. The coffee is then fermented, washed, and cleaned to remove the remaining mucilage. After this, it’s dried on raised beds for a few days.

Graded as AA, this classification refers to bean size. In Kenyan specialty coffee, the most common grades are AA and AB. AA is often considered the cream of the Kenyan crop, fetching higher prices due to its size, reputation, and relative scarcity (although bigger doesn’t always guarantee flavour superiority—we’ve had some wonderful ABs).

This careful processing, together with the region’s altitude and fertile soils, helps produce the bright acidity, structured sweetness, and complex fruit character for which coffees from Kirinyaga are well known.

This is a brilliant cup—bright raspberries, layered vanilla, butterscotch, and melon with a silky mouthfeel. Fantastic on filter and huge as an espresso at home.

Origin: Kii Factory, Kirinyaga
Altitude: 1750 – 1950 MASL
Process: Fully Washed
Varietal: SL28, SL34, Ruiru 11