What do you need to know

A sweet and clean washed coffee from Kenya. This coffee is versatile . Probably best enjoyed without milk, it packs a fruit-forward punch as an espresso and delivers a sweet filter brewed via any brewer you have to hand.

The process

The coffee is hand sorted and floated before pulping and washing, followed by an initial stint on skin-drying tables to quickly remove surface moisture. It is then dried for 10–14 days on raised African beds, turned regularly and protected from both rain and midday sun. Once ready, the parchment is milled at Great Rift’s own facilities and hand-graded to ensure only the best beans make it to export

The producer

Great Rift Coffee is a vertically integrated producer in Nandi County, Kenya, that manages every stage from cultivation through to export. Established in 2019, Great Rift cultivates 300 acres of its own Arabica while also working with 250–300 neighbouring farmers. By offering seedlings, agronomy training, and financial support, they’ve helped strengthen coffee production across the North Rift, a region still relatively under-recognised in Kenyan coffee but showing outstanding potential.

The cultivars

Kenya has been long-known for its approach to coffee research and search for new coffee cultivars that can withstand agricultural challenges - SL28 being probably it’s move famous and beloved export. The two cultivars in this coffee - Ruiru 11 and Batian come from this research-driven tradition. Released in 1985, Ruiru 11 was Kenya’s first major foray into developing a compact, high-yielding, disease-resistant coffee variety. Named after the Ruiru research station near Nairobi, it was bred by crossing Catimor lines with SL28 and SL34, with additional hybridisation from Sudanese and Ethiopian landraces. Batain comes from the next generation of hybrids - first released in 2010 is said to have a cup profile closer to the vibrant and sought-after SL28.

Any other business

Enjoy an exhibition of a classically fruity Kenyan coffee which shines across brew methods and styles.