Kenya Kiambu Spike AB
Kenya Kiambu Spike AB
Kenya Kiambu Spike AB
Great dark roasted Kenya, bittersweet, lightly fruited, and with complex rustic aroma. High % cacao bar, smoked chocolate, black currant, dried figs, tobacco leaf, and pepper cask aged coffee. Full City to Full City+. Good for espresso.
Full Cupping Notes
We're enjoying this 2024 lot of Spike AB roasted dark, where rustic bittersweetness is accented by hints of fruit, and mild bright notes (keep in mind, "new crop" Kenya's are still a few months away). It should really appeal to those looking for a sweet, nuanced dark roasted brew, with earthy aromatics that dial up the cup complexity. My Full City roast for this review was dropped 35F after the start of 1st Crack. Another 5-10 degrees and it would've hit 2nd Crack. The fragrance of the ground coffee had a pleasant chocolate scent, accented by hints of dried date, and pipe tobacco. The cup is bittersweet at its core, with pungent cocoa roast notes, earthy cacao, and a note of high % cacao dark chocolate. There's a slightly tart hint behind the bittersweet flavors that comes off like black currant, along with a note of dried figs. Complex earth tones impact the aroma, and bring to mind tobacco leaf, and pepper cask aged coffee, if you've tried it. As espresso, a dark grape flavor is distilled down with notes of smoked dark chocolate, bittering baking cocoa, and a hint of sandalwood.
Specs
Region Kaira-ini, Kiambu County Processing Wet Process (Washed) Drying Method Raised Bed Sun-Dried Arrival date July 2024 Arrival Lot size 49 Bag size 60 KG Packaging GrainPro Liner Farm Gate Yes Cultivar Detail SL-28, SL-34, Ruiru 11 Grade AB Appearance .2 d/300gr, 15-17 Screen Roast Recommendations Full City to Full City+; great dark roasted Kenya Type Farm Gate Recommended for Espresso Yes
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 | Yes |
Kenya Kiambu Spike AB
Kenya Kiambu Spike AB
Great dark roasted Kenya, bittersweet, lightly fruited, and with complex rustic aroma. High % cacao bar, smoked chocolate, black currant, dried figs, tobacco leaf, and pepper cask aged coffee. Full City to Full City+. Good for espresso.
Full Cupping Notes
We're enjoying this 2024 lot of Spike AB roasted dark, where rustic bittersweetness is accented by hints of fruit, and mild bright notes (keep in mind, "new crop" Kenya's are still a few months away). It should really appeal to those looking for a sweet, nuanced dark roasted brew, with earthy aromatics that dial up the cup complexity. My Full City roast for this review was dropped 35F after the start of 1st Crack. Another 5-10 degrees and it would've hit 2nd Crack. The fragrance of the ground coffee had a pleasant chocolate scent, accented by hints of dried date, and pipe tobacco. The cup is bittersweet at its core, with pungent cocoa roast notes, earthy cacao, and a note of high % cacao dark chocolate. There's a slightly tart hint behind the bittersweet flavors that comes off like black currant, along with a note of dried figs. Complex earth tones impact the aroma, and bring to mind tobacco leaf, and pepper cask aged coffee, if you've tried it. As espresso, a dark grape flavor is distilled down with notes of smoked dark chocolate, bittering baking cocoa, and a hint of sandalwood.
Specs
| Region | Kaira-ini, Kiambu County |
|---|---|
| Processing | Wet Process (Washed) |
| Drying Method | Raised Bed Sun-Dried |
| Arrival date | July 2024 Arrival |
| Lot size | 49 |
| Bag size | 60 KG |
| Packaging | GrainPro Liner |
| Farm Gate | Yes |
| Cultivar Detail | SL-28, SL-34, Ruiru 11 |
| Grade | AB |
| Appearance | .2 d/300gr, 15-17 Screen |
| Roast Recommendations | Full City to Full City+; great dark roasted Kenya |
| Type | Farm Gate |
| Recommended for Espresso | Yes |