Yummy Magazine Vol 1 - Coffee Culture | Page 18

COVER text yummy staff COFFEE CULTURE Sure, you’ve probably heard that Kenya Arabica varietals are the best in the world, but why? Kenya coffee has a deep and rich history. Introduced by Scottish and French missions separately in the late 1800s their ‘special’ strains of Arabica came by way of Ethiopia and Yemen and were later grafted together by enterprising settlers. Over sixty years of independence, the government has perfected its coffee into two main varieties, SL 28 and SL 34. But what makes Kenya Coffee truly special is where and how it is grown. Outside of Nyeri is the coffee growing hub of Kenya. There, the high altitude sun and soil and twice a year rain fall, produce bountiful and tasty coffee crops. Because of our cooperative system of raising and producing coffee, this typically translates into a hands-on ‘boutique’ style of production, where the difference can be likened to handmade bread vs. factory-made. Kenya Coffee belongs to an elite class of Arabica called Colombian Milds only found here, Tanzania and Colombia. This class of Arabica is treasured for its taste and aroma. Begin your whirlwind tour with a glimpse into Dormans’ Barista Goeffrey Kaize’s love affair with coffee and an overview of some of Nairobi’s hottest coffee spots. In case you don’t know your cappuccino from your mochachino, we put together a Coffee Drinking for Dummies menu. Finally, find out more about the journey of the coffee bean in our feature From Bean to Coffee. What makes Kenya coffee truly special is where it is grown and cultivated