Kenya Kiambu Spike AB
Kenya Kiambu Spike AB
Kenya Kiambu Spike AB
Cup flavors have a juicy quality, fruited and bright, but well integrated into the sweetness. Complexity comes up a bit as it cools, hints of dried currant, blackberry, long steeped black tea, aromatic finish. City to Full City.
Full Cupping Notes
This was a great year for Spike Farm coffee, so much so that we wound up buying six different lots (most of which we've already sold through)! This AB selection is the medium-sized beans (15-16 screen), and the cup fell somewhere between the more fruited Peaberries and brightly spiced AA lots. The dry grounds released fruited sweetness, notes of dark sugars with raisin, clove spice, and a hint of apple cider. After pouring hot water on the grounds, the scent in the steam is enticing and complex, and the level of sweetness is very intense. Running my spoon through the crust let off a scent of blueberry muffin, brown sugar, vanilla caramel, and a hint of whole spices. The cup flavors have a juicy quality, fruited and bright, but well integrated into the sweetness. There's a nice base flavor of raw sugars that grounds some of the brighter notes in the top end. This doesn't have the jarring brightness of some Kenyas, but is instead well rounded, the complexity becoming more apparent as it cools. Our City roast had notes of dried black currant, blackberry, and raisin add to the impressive cup sweetness, and fade to an intriguing bitters aspect like long steeped black tea. The cup aroma is accented by a hint of chamomile tea and orange neroli that lead up to a very nice finish!
Specs
Region Kaira-ini, Kiambu County Processing Wet Process Kenya Type Drying Method Raised Bed Sun-Dried Arrival date May 2025 Arrival Lot size 30 Bag size 60 KG Packaging GrainPro Liner Farm Gate Yes Cultivar Detail SL-28, SL-34, Ruiru 11 Grade AB Appearance .2 d/300gr, 15-16 Screen Roast Recommendations City to Full City Type Farm Gate
Product Overview
Product Overview
| process method | Wet Process (Washed) |
|---|---|
| cultivar | Bourbon Types |
| farm gate | Yes |
Farm Notes
Farm Notes
Origin & Farm Notes
When asking Moses, the farm manager, why they named the farm "Spike", he matter of factly stated that the owner simply liked the name. That's reason enough for me, and certainly a name we'll remember. Spike farm was established about 12 years ago, in Kaira-ini area of Kenya's Kiambu district. This 12 hectare farm sits at 1930 meters above sea level, and is planted in SL 28, and Ruiru 11 varieties, planted in separate blocks. They recently started grafting Ruiru onto SL roots too, also on a separate farm block from the rest. All of the coffee is currently harvested together. However, next year they plan to process coffee from each block and offer variety separations, as well as blends. The coffee is pulped using a small electric pulping machine, then fermented for 72 hours to break down the sticky fruit mucilage stuck to the seed. After, the coffee is washed of the remaining fruit and then dried on raised beds for around 10 days.
Specs
Specs
Technical Specifications
Key specifications and operating details for this product.
| region | |
|---|---|
| processing | |
| drying method | |
| arrival date | |
| lot size | |
| bag size | |
| packaging | |
| farm gate | Yes |
| cultivar detail | |
| grade | |
| appearance | |
| roast recommendations | |
| type | Farm Gate |
| recommended espresso | No |
Kenya Kiambu Spike AB
Kenya Kiambu Spike AB
Cup flavors have a juicy quality, fruited and bright, but well integrated into the sweetness. Complexity comes up a bit as it cools, hints of dried currant, blackberry, long steeped black tea, aromatic finish. City to Full City.
Full Cupping Notes
This was a great year for Spike Farm coffee, so much so that we wound up buying six different lots (most of which we've already sold through)! This AB selection is the medium-sized beans (15-16 screen), and the cup fell somewhere between the more fruited Peaberries and brightly spiced AA lots. The dry grounds released fruited sweetness, notes of dark sugars with raisin, clove spice, and a hint of apple cider. After pouring hot water on the grounds, the scent in the steam is enticing and complex, and the level of sweetness is very intense. Running my spoon through the crust let off a scent of blueberry muffin, brown sugar, vanilla caramel, and a hint of whole spices. The cup flavors have a juicy quality, fruited and bright, but well integrated into the sweetness. There's a nice base flavor of raw sugars that grounds some of the brighter notes in the top end. This doesn't have the jarring brightness of some Kenyas, but is instead well rounded, the complexity becoming more apparent as it cools. Our City roast had notes of dried black currant, blackberry, and raisin add to the impressive cup sweetness, and fade to an intriguing bitters aspect like long steeped black tea. The cup aroma is accented by a hint of chamomile tea and orange neroli that lead up to a very nice finish!
Specs
| Region | Kaira-ini, Kiambu County |
|---|---|
| Processing | Wet Process Kenya Type |
| Drying Method | Raised Bed Sun-Dried |
| Arrival date | May 2025 Arrival |
| Lot size | 30 |
| Bag size | 60 KG |
| Packaging | GrainPro Liner |
| Farm Gate | Yes |
| Cultivar Detail | SL-28, SL-34, Ruiru 11 |
| Grade | AB |
| Appearance | .2 d/300gr, 15-16 Screen |
| Roast Recommendations | City to Full City |
| Type | Farm Gate |