⏱ 2 min read
The Short Version
Three hundred professional cuppers are descending on Nairobi to map 500 coffee samples from 34 counties into a definitive sensory atlas. This ambitious project aims to reclaim Kenya’s flavor narrative, transforming regional nuances into a standardized database for the global market.
More than 500 coffee samples from 34 Kenyan counties are headed to Nairobi for a massive coordinated tasting effort. This initiative, known as the Kenya Coffee Flavor Map project, aims to codify the nation’s diverse sensory profiles into a publicly accessible atlas by 2027. The project serves as the centerpiece of the upcoming Kenya Coffee Flavor & Origin Expo, held November 14–16 at the Shamba Events Centre.
Bringing people together to compare their experiences gives that curiosity a practical form: knowledge they can share and use.
Mapping origin through sensory data
The scale of the undertaking is significant, requiring the recruitment of 300 professional cuppers from both Kenya and abroad. During intensive sessions on November 15 and 16, these experts will evaluate coffees to connect specific flavor characteristics with geographic origins, growing conditions, varieties, and post-harvest processing methods. Technical partner Torch Coffee brings experience to the table, having previously executed similar large-scale flavor mapping exercises in China’s Yunnan province between 2021 and 2024.
Bringing people together to compare their experiences gives that curiosity a practical form: knowledge they can share and use. Torch Coffee Co-Founder Marty Pollack notes that the map begins with simple curiosity about existing local coffees. By transforming individual observations into a standardized database, the project intends to provide producers, traders, and buyers with a definitive reference for communicating regional nuances. This effort arrives as Kenya’s domestic market expands; according to the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), the number of coffee shops in the country rose from 231 in 2019 to 791 in 2023.
Defining a national coffee story
While the industry often relies on global standards like the Specialty Coffee Association’s Flavor Wheel, this initiative leans into regional specificity. It follows a precedent set by the ASEAN Coffee Federation, which introduced its own Flavour Sphere to better reflect Southeast Asian profiles. For Kenya, the goal is autonomy over its sensory narrative. Martin Shabaya, four-time Kenyan national barista champion and founder of Shabaya Ltd, suggests the project allows the country to tell its own story through the collective voices of its people.
The final Kenya Coffee Flavor Atlas will be available for free download, featuring regional flavor profiles, visual maps, and a comprehensive sensory database. The Expo itself is presented by a coalition including the Coffee Board of Kenya, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Kenya, and the Kenya Coffee Platform. By bridging the gap between local production and international export markets, organizers hope to elevate how Kenyan coffee is both evaluated and valued globally.
Do you think regional flavor maps help or hinder the standardization of specialty coffee?
Questions & Answers
What is the purpose of the Kenya Coffee Flavor Map project?
The Kenya Coffee Flavor Map project aims to codify the diverse sensory profiles of Kenyan coffee into a publicly accessible atlas by 2027. This initiative seeks to connect specific flavor characteristics with geographic origins, growing conditions, coffee varieties, and post-harvest processing methods. By creating a standardized database, the project provides producers, traders, and buyers with a definitive reference for communicating regional nuances. Ultimately, the project helps Kenya establish autonomy over its own sensory narrative and national coffee story.
How will the coffee samples be evaluated for the flavor map?
Coffee samples will be evaluated through intensive tasting sessions involving 300 professional cuppers recruited from both Kenya and abroad. These experts will analyze more than 500 samples collected from 34 different Kenyan counties to identify unique regional profiles. The technical process is supported by Torch Coffee, which brings experience from similar large-scale flavor mapping exercises conducted in China’s Yunnan province. This coordinated effort ensures that the resulting data accurately reflects the relationship between specific flavors and their geographic origins.
When and where will the Kenya Coffee Flavor & Origin Expo take place?
The Kenya Coffee Flavor & Origin Expo will be held from November 14 to November 16 at the Shamba Events Centre. This event serves as the centerpiece for the flavor mapping initiative and includes intensive evaluation sessions scheduled for November 15 and 16. The expo is presented by a coalition that includes the Coffee Board of Kenya, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Kenya, and the Kenya Coffee Platform. It provides a vital platform for connecting local production with international markets.
Why is the Kenyan domestic coffee market expanding?
The Kenyan domestic coffee market is expanding rapidly, evidenced by a significant increase in the number of local coffee shops. Data from the Agriculture and Food Authority shows that the number of coffee shops in the country rose from 231 in 2019 to 791 in 2023. This growth creates a greater need for tools like the Kenya Coffee Flavor Atlas, which will offer free regional flavor profiles and sensory databases. Such resources help bridge the gap between local producers and the growing number of domestic consumers.
Originally reported by Daily Coffee News.
