Coffee region guide
Embu
엠부
A coffee origin in the Mount Kenya foothills, with specialty lots from small estates including Kimbo.
Place and growing environment
Kimbo’s growing area has a cool climate and red volcanic soils.
Recorded flavors
- 01Lemon blossom
- 02Red apple
- 03Vanilla
- 04Cane sugar
Processing
Washed
Grown varieties
SL28 · SL34 · Ruiru 11 · Batian
SL28
A drought-tolerant selection made by Kenya's Scott Laboratories in 1935.
- Lineage
- Selected from Tanganyika Drought Resistant, with Bourbon-related genetics.
- Growing conditions
- Suited to middle and high elevations; drought tolerant but susceptible to major diseases.
- Traits
- Long-lived trees can remain productive, with strong high-altitude cup potential.
SL34
Selected by Scott Laboratories from a tree at Kenya's Loresho Estate.
- Lineage
- Genetically associated with the Typica group.
- Growing conditions
- Adapted to high elevations with ample rainfall; susceptible to coffee berry disease.
- Traits
- Usually dark-bronze leaf tips, with high cup potential.
Ruiru 11
A compact, productive composite F1 variety developed in Kenya.
- Lineage
- Combines Catimor maternal lines with complex paternal crosses involving K7, SL28, N39 and Rume Sudan.
- Growing conditions
- High nutrient demand and early bearing.
- Traits
- Coffee berry disease resistance and rust tolerance are central breeding traits.
Batian
A composite of three pure lines released in Kenya in 2010.
- Lineage
- Derived from individual selections in F5 generations of certain Ruiru 11 paternal lines.
- Growing conditions
- Tall trees with rust tolerance and coffee berry disease resistance.
- Traits
- Its breeding ancestry includes SL28, SL34, Rume Sudan, N39, K7, SL4 and Timor Hybrid.
Lot details
Guchienda Estate AA
Edwin, Benson and Esther — Guchienda Estate
Kibugu, Embu County · Harvest 2025-12
- Variety · process
- SL28Washed
- Tasting notes
- Ripe currants · Rose hips · Tree tomato
Kamavindi SL28
Mbature family — Kamavindi Estate
Embu, Kenya · Harvest 2024-09
- Variety · process
- SL28Washed; two-stage dry fermentation
- Tasting notes
- Blackberry · Rooibos · Candied grapefruit
Sources
- Kimbo Estate AA(opens in a new tab)
Melbourne Coffee Merchants · Accessed
- Ndunduri Embu AB(opens in a new tab)
Sucafina · Accessed
- Guchienda Estate AA — December 2025(opens in a new tab)
SEY Coffee · Accessed
- Kamavindi SL28 — September 2024(opens in a new tab)
SEY Coffee · Accessed