A Guide to Kenyan Coffee in Nairobi
Why Kenyan beans are prized worldwide, how to read the grades, and the best places in Nairobi to drink them.
Nairobi Guide Editors · 21 Oct 2026 · 1 min read
Kenya grows some of the most sought-after arabica in the world. The best comes from the highland slopes around Mount Kenya, the Aberdare Range and Kiambu, where volcanic soil and cool nights produce a bright, fruity cup.
How to read a bag
- AA, AB and PB are size grades: AA is the largest bean, PB is peaberry.
- SL28 and SL34 are the classic Kenyan varieties, known for blackcurrant and citrus notes.
- Most Kenyan coffee is sold at the weekly auction in Nairobi before it is exported.
Where to drink it
- Connect Coffee Roasters in Riverside for small-batch filter coffee.
- Spring Valley Coffee at Westgate for breakfast and a reliable flat white.
- Karen Blixen Coffee Garden for a slow brunch under the trees.
- Java House for a local chain with Kenyan beans across the city.
