Seasonal. Typically November–April. Turn on notifications for restock.
- Origin
- Kenya
- Region
- Kiambu County
- Washing station
- Githembe Cooperative
- Altitude
- 1,600–1,800 masl
- Varietal
- SL28 / SL34 / Batian
- Process
- Washed — Wet Fermentation
- Roast level
- Light
- Harvest
- 2025 main crop
- Retail price
- ~£14–16 / 250g
- Roaster
- Kiss the Hippo
Tasting notes
From Kiss the Hippo
"Kenya does washed coffee like nowhere else. More than 700,000 smallholders farm a hectare or two each and deliver their cherries to cooperative-run factories. Because farmers compete on quality, a better cup means a better auction price. Githembe is graded AA — the largest and most prized of Kenya's bean grades. Expect vibrant, tart blackcurrant, crisp green apple, and a sweet caramel finish."
Cuppd note
Kenyan AA is one of the clearest expressions of washed coffee at altitude. The SL28 and SL34 varietals — developed in the 1930s by Scott Laboratories — are responsible for that signature dark-fruit intensity. At 1,600–1,800 metres, the slow cherry development builds the structural acidity that makes this style so distinctive.
Brew it as a V60 at 93°C and give it time to cool — it opens up as it drops in temperature. Kiss the Hippo is one of London's most data-rich roasters: every product page includes cultivar, altitude, harvest window, and cooperative details.
Flavour fingerprint
Who it\'s for
Built for: The Bright Drinker
You want clarity, origin character, and coffees that taste like somewhere specific. This is the textbook cup for your profile.
Also suits: The Terroir Hunter
Three named varietals, a cooperative you can look up, a harvest year, and an altitude range. The full picture is here.
How to brew it
Best method
V60 Pour Over
- Temperature
- 93°C
- Grind
- Medium-fine
- Ratio
- 1:15 (15g : 225ml)
The clarity of washed Kenyan coffee is best served by a clean paper filter method. 3-minute brew time. Use water around 150ppm TDS for best results.
Also great
Filter / Batch Brew
- Temperature
- 93°C
- Grind
- Medium
- Ratio
- 1:15
Flat-bottomed filter brewer works beautifully. Chemex gives a slightly heavier body if preferred.
Avoid espresso with this lot unless you want to chase the acidity — it works but is not the ideal format.
Where to buy
Kiss the Hippo — Online Shop
~£14–16 / 250g
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About the roaster
Kiss the Hippo
London-based specialty roaster with cafes in Richmond, Fitzrovia, and the City. Known for exceptional sourcing transparency — every product page includes cultivar, altitude, harvest window, and cooperative details.
Roaster profile →
About the origin
Kenya Coffee
The cooperative model, the SL28/SL34 varietals, and the high-altitude growing conditions of the central highlands combine to produce a flavour signature — dark fruit, tomato acidity, structural complexity — that has no real equivalent elsewhere.
Origin guide →