Hard Beans - Kenya Kii AA Natural Filter 250 g

Whole-bean specialty coffee from Kenya, roasted by Hard Beans from Poland. Light roast, perfect for filter coffee machines, drippers, Chemex, AeroPress, French Press, and other pour-over brewing methods. In the cup, you can expect the notes of black currants, black cherry, plum and raspberry.

Origin: Kenya

Region: Kirinyaga

Variety: SL28, SL34, Batian

Farm: Kii Coffee Factory

Processing: Natural

Altitude: 1600 – 1800 m n.p.m.

ABOUT THE FARM

Kii Coffee Factory operates in the Kirinyaga region, at the foot of Mount Kenya. It is one of three stations belonging to the Rungeto Farmers’ Cooperative Society, alongside Karimikui and Kiangoi.Approximately 850 smallholders deliver cherries to Kii. The average farm size is around 0.5 ha, meaning production relies on a large number of small family farms. Coffee grows here alongside avocado, macadamia, and banana trees, and farmers also cultivate crops for their own consumption on the same plots, including beans and potatoes.Rungeto has been working with producers for years on agronomy and the quality of delivered cherries. Kii is also among the stations with high farmer loyalty, which has a very practical significance: good cherries are regularly delivered to the same station, rather than being sold wherever a better price happens to appear.

ABOUT THE VARIETAL

This lot contains SL28, SL34, and Batian. This is a set very characteristic of modern coffee production in Kenya.SL28 and SL34 are strongly tied to the history of the Kenyan coffee sector. Both selections were introduced in the 20th century and remain an important part of cultivation in central Kenya to this day. They yield good results at high altitudes, but are also susceptible to certain coffee diseases.Batian is a much younger varietal. It was introduced in Kenya in 2010 as a response to issues with Coffee Berry Disease and coffee leaf rust. Its goal was to combine strong quality potential with higher resistance and better productivity.The name of this coffee also includes "AA". This is neither a varietal nor a taste grade. AA is the Kenyan designation for bean size—it applies to the largest fraction separated during sorting.

ABOUT THE PROCESSING

This is where this lot deviates most from what Kii is usually associated with. The station's standard production is based on washed processing. Cherries are sorted, depulped, fermented, washed, and then the parchment is dried on raised beds.This lot was prepared as Natural. In this method, the bean dries inside the whole fruit. The skin and pulp remain on the seed for a significant portion of the drying process and are removed only later.This is a completely different way of processing than the classic Kii washed. That is precisely what makes this coffee interesting. Not because Natural in itself is rare—in Brazil or Ethiopia, it is a standard part of production. In Kenya, the situation is different. There, washed processing has been the standard for high-quality coffees for decades, and naturals still account for a small fraction of the market.

RECIPE

Ratio: 60 g coffee per 1 liter of water

Water temperature: 93°C

Grind size: medium

Brew time: 3:30 minutes

Method: Pour water over the coffee in 5 equal pours (e.g., 5x 60 g) at 30-second intervals.

The water should completely draw down through the coffee between pours.If the water flows too slowly or too quickly, adjust your grind size coarser/finer.

Remember to use soft, filtered water!

Store in a dry and cool place.