Our sample of Green Mountain Kenyan AA was provided by our friends at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters. If you’ve been reading the K-Cup Challenge at all, you know I’m a fan of Green Mountain for both their great coffee, and their commitment to Brewing a Better World.

What is Says on the Box

Finally, our Kenyan AA in a K-Cup! Our medium roast on this premiere African origin brings out wine-like acidity and a rich, blackberry finish.

Tasting Notes (from the company website)

An excellent introduction to African coffees.

Our Kenyan is fruity and winey, with medium to heavy body and a rich blackberry finish. From the slopes of Mt. Kenya, through the Rift valley, to the shores of lake Victoria, the Kenyan coffee farmers patiently nurture coffee trees that produce some of the world’s best coffee beans. The finest beans, graded AA, are sold at weekly auctions run by the Coffee Board of Kenya.

The Aroma

As you might expect from the descriptions above, Kenyan AA has an extremely fruity scent; more so than any other non-flavored coffee I’ve tried thus far. There are also hints of what you might call the classic roasted bean aroma that is common to all good coffees.

Drinking it Black

For nearly every rule there is an exception.  This is my 12th, maybe 13th review in the K-Cup Challenge, and in nearly every one I’ve told you that I don’t really enjoy drinking my coffee black.  Well, something strange happened when drinking my first cup of Kenyan AA.  I drank the entire cup.

If I can drink an entire cup without cream and sugar (and pretty much fail to notice that I’ve done so), you can bet I’m drinking an exceptionally smooth coffee.  No bitterness, no aftertaste, absolutely nothing unpleasant about the blend at all.

By its nature it is extremely fruity (just like they said).  And just like they said (sort of), Kenyan AA is nearly as much a glass of wine as it is a cup of coffee (not that any of us are about to down a steamy glass of merlot).  Like a quality, dry, red, you’ll feel it a bit in your cheeks.  Noteworthy, I suppose; the last sip in the cup had a bit of a dark chocolaty finish to it.

While the box describes Kenyan AA as a light to medium roast, I’d rate it at least a solid medium to medium-dark.  Regardless, it has a satin-like body that coats the mouth without being all up in your grill about it.

With Cream and Sugar

When mixed with cream and sugar, Kenyan AA takes on a bit of a nutty flavor.  As much as I’m generally a proponent of sweetening up a cup of coffee, doing so with this particular blend steals from the nuances of the flavor, and distracts from the natural tastiness of the roast.

Don’t misunderstand me.  Kenyan AA, with cream and sugar added is still as good as anything being pimped out by a pudgy FoodTV personality, but I’m of the opinion that this blend needs to be enjoyed in its purest (black) form.

Final Thoughts

Green Mountain’s Kenyan AA is a unique coffee drinking experience.  It’s completely unlike any blend, from any company, that we’ve tried so far (yes, it’s still early).

It’s the first variety I’ve sampled that I prefer, and would recommend, drinking black.  Why ruin such a good thing?  It’s no wonder that fans of the blend in non-K-cup form asked Green Mountain to make a K-Cup version.  I, for one, am glad the company listened.

As much as like Green Mountain’s Kenyan AA, it doesn’t qualify for consideration as an every day cup of coffee.  Your steady morning brew needs to be able to smack you around from time to time; do whatever it takes to get you moving.  Kenyan AA is a bit too complicated, too sophisticated, and too gentle to serve that purpose, although you can bet I’m going to continue to enjoy this blend on an every now and then schedule.

My guess would be that for every fan of the blend, there’s an equally passionate detractor.  Its appeal is likely limited for those among us who like no nonsense, no fills coffee.  For those willing to try something a little bit unusual, but without crossing over into the flavored arena, Kenyan AA offers a delicious opportunity to step outside your comfort zone.

Kenyan AA Extra Bold is available directly from Green Mountain Coffee Roasters. You can Save $2 on Every Box when you sign up for their Café Express program.

While you’re here at Qwowi.com, check out the complete archive of reviews from The K-Cup Challenge.

Share This Post