11 Best Kenyan Coffee Brands For A Rich And Intense Brew

Are you hoping to try coffee from all around the world? Our list of the best Kenyan coffee brands is the perfect starting point for discovering quality java.

If you’re searching for the best Kenyan coffee brands, you’re at the right place. While Kenya is only the 25th largest coffee exporter in the world, it’s more than proven itself as a home of high-quality beans. Kenyan coffee is beloved for its full body, balanced complexity, and beautiful acidic profile.

Kenyan coffee is graded as E, PB, AA, AB, C, TT, T, and MH/ML. The grades are given to define the size of the beans before they are roasted with E standing for elephant as they’re the largest beans, PB standing for peaberry, and T being the smallest with the poorest quality.

Since not all Kenyan coffee is the same, we’ve selected the best brands to get you started. While you’re here, check out our article on the best African countries for coffee.

1. Screen 18

When speaking of the best Kenyan coffee brands, Screen 18 should be the first name to be called. The brand has been sourcing coffee all around the world for 70 years and has acquired a huge wealth of knowledge in that time.

It offers AA specialty-grade Kenyan coffee that lives up to the hype. This medium-dark roast is smooth and rich but lacks the acidity that gives many coffee drinkers an upset stomach.

2. Volcanica

As the name suggests, this brand sources its premium coffee beans from highland volcanic soils. Going Volcanica’s way means you are brewing some of the finest coffee grown at an altitude of 5,000 to 6,800 feet above sea level.

One of the company’s best-sellers, Kenya AA Whole Bean Coffee, is beloved for its rich body, pleasant, vibrant acidity, and fragrant aroma with a light-medium roast profile. Alternatively, those cutting their caffeine intake should try the Kenyan AA Decaf version.

3. Henry’s House Of Coffee

Henry’s House Of Coffee has been hand-roasting coffee since 1965. The three-generation family brand has a humble beginning that originated in a small bakery in Lebanon. This is where Henry, the second successor of the Kalebjian family, had been helping his father roast and serve coffee to the local customers since the age of 12.

Fast forward to today, Henry’s House Of Coffee has become a heavyweight in the coffee industry, specializing in medium to dark roasts with a very smooth finish. The brand’s Kenyan coffee collection is available in both dark and light roasts.

To unlock the full potential of its Kenyan Light Roast, a drop of milk or cream enhances the velvety body and balances out the citrusy notes and acidic kick. Its Kenyan Dark Roast also stands out as a rich, super smooth blend.

4. Cooper’s Cask

It’s a luxury to find really good barrel-aged coffees reminiscent of whiskey. Therefore, Cooper’s Cask promises to be a big hit for those coffee fanatics with an adventurous palate.

Cooper’s Cask’s Kenya AA Medium Dark Roast is single-origin with a vibrant flavor of honey wheat, bitter-sweet chocolate, and molasses biscuit. Such a unique and impressive tasting profile comes from the carefully sourced Bourbon varietal, which is known to deliver a great combination of tart and dark fruit notes.

5. Gevalia

Kenyan Special Reserve is the long-standing signature brew brought to you by Gevalia, a Swedish coffee company dedicated to providing intense coffee with lively acidity with winey undertones. Its floral notes, coupled with the cherry flavor, are subtle and beautiful.

However, the only downside is that you can only purchase pre-ground coffee or pods. Don’t forget to keep a close eye on the bag after you open it to ensure the coffee is stored correctly so it stays fresh and flavorful.

6. Good As Gold

Good As Gold is true to its name, as the brand’s coffee is top-notch. In particular, the Kenya AA brew is made from high-quality Arabica beans. It has been roasted in small batches to ensure the beans hit that sweet spot.

This medium roast tastes wonderfully fresh and bright. You might also be interested in our round-up of the best Colombian coffee brands.

7. Fresh Roasted Coffee

Going strong since 2009, the brand’s core product is coffee, along with other extra offerings such as loose-leaf tea, tea bags, and tea pods. Simple, straightforward, and packed with a bright flavor profile, Fresh Roasted Coffee’s AA-graded Kenya coffee has hints of peach blossom, orange zest, and black tea.

The Kenya AA coffee is marked as dark roast and extra bold, using carefully sourced beans near the slopes of Mt. Elgon. Since it’s grown at a high elevation, your coffee is expected to be sweeter than the coffee you’d find in a grocery store. Meanwhile, the acidity level is balanced out by a hint of smokiness thanks to the dark roast profile.

8. Koffee Kult

While Koffee Kult is just a small family-owned business, it sources the highest quality 100% Arabica coffee beans from all over the world. When it comes to Kenya, Koffee Kult uses AA beans grown at smallholder farms at high altitudes and on volcanic soil.

So, what can you expect from your cup of java? Medium-roasted, the coffee offers both complexity and balance. It’s medium-bodied, aromatic, and slightly acidic, with prominent notes of caramel, apple raisin, and wine. The coffee is suitable for practically any brewing method but excels at pour-over and drip.

9. Kahawa 1893

Founded by a third-generation coffee farmer from Kenya, Kahawa 1893 is a great choice for trying out coffee coming from this country.

The single-origin Kenyan medium roast allows the complex flavors to shine. A cup of this java is full-bodied, bright, and inherently sweet, with notes of blackcurrant and apricot.

If you’re looking for something darker, the brand also makes a blend with Kenyan beans, which makes a full-bodied and bold cup with a slight tangy sweetness.

10. Starbucks

Most brands that make Kenyan coffee only offer single-origin java but, Starbucks prefers creating blends. The Kenya African blend is composed of Kenyan beans and coffee sourced from East Africa.

It’s a well-rounded medium roast with notes reminiscent of brown sugar and tropical fruit. If you prefer single-origin, the coffee giant offers a single-origin Kenyan brew, simply called Kenya.

This is also a medium roast. It’s rich, full-bodied, and with juicy acidity. It has a strong mouthfeel and grapefruit-like taste with hints of berries, currants, raisins, and oranges.

11. Rockbern

The volcanic highlands of Mount Kenya are renowned for growing the best coffee in the world, and that’s Rockbern’s Mt Kenya AA 88+ beans are sourced from.

The two main varieties grown in this area are SL28 and Batian Arabica. They are carefully selected for this medium-roasted blend to achieve a smooth, rich, and slightly acidic brew, with hints of blackcurrants and grapefruit.

Rockbern is committed to sustainability, which is why this coffee comes in a reusable and recyclable tin with a one-way valve. The Rainforest Alliance certification shows that the brand is also focused on the social and economic aspects of sustainability on top of conserving the environment.

If you liked this post, you might also be interested in these Kenya coffee facts.