At Spring Valley Coffee, we’ve always believed that the future of great coffee lies not just in taste, but in how we grow, source, and steward the land.
Today, we’re proud to share a major milestone: the release of Kikaboni, our first certified organic coffee, and the first roasted, certified organic coffee to be made available locally in Kenya.
Kikaboni is more than just a new product. It’s the beginning of a regenerative chapter for Kenyan coffee. Grown on two pioneering estates in Kericho County - Humkel Produce Limited and Kiqwetu Coffee Estate - this coffee is the result of years of purpose-driven work to support more sustainable, organic farming in Kenya.
Why Organic and Why Now?
Around the world, coffee drinkers are demanding more than just great flavour; they want to know where their coffee comes from, how it’s grown, and the impact it has on people and the planet. Organic coffee speaks to that shift. Grown without synthetic fertilisers or pesticides, it protects biodiversity, restores soil health, and supports safer, more sustainable food systems.
Yet in Kenya, certified organic coffee has almost always been exported - flown out to be roasted and enjoyed elsewhere. Kikaboni changes that. It’s the first certified organic Kenyan coffee to be roasted and sold locally, giving Kenyan consumers the chance to taste, support, and be part of a more ecological future.
A Regenerative Journey
In 2021, the TRACE Kenya Project set out to help over 15,000 smallholder farmers adopt regenerative and organic practices. Stephen Vick (A Spring Valley Coffee Board Member) worked closely with this effort, supporting certification and climate-resilient farming systems.
In June 2023, he led a delegation of 35 TRACE farmers to Rwanda to study regenerative agriculture firsthand. The group visited farms that had transformed degraded lands using composting, vermiculture, and biochar - turning erosion-prone fields into vibrant agroforestry systems. These practices are now taking root here at home.
Why Regenerative Agriculture Matters in Kenya
Kenyan coffee farmers are facing climate change head-on: hotter days, erratic rainfall, and droughts are already reducing yields and increasing costs. Many farms are under 2 hectares, rain-fed, and vulnerable.
But a 2025 study by TechnoServe offers a compelling path forward:
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Regenerative agriculture can nearly triple farm income in five years - from $1,291/ha to over $3,800/ha.
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It can reduce on-farm GHG emissions by 66%, mostly by lowering synthetic input use and boosting yields.
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And it requires minimal upfront investments - with immediate cost savings and income gains from year one, especially with basic technical support and training.
The investment needed? Just $235 per farm.
The return? Better livelihoods, healthier land, and long-term resilience.
What Our Partner Estates Are Doing Differently
Kiqwetu and Humkel are ahead of the curve and are proving that organic, regenerative coffee is possible right here in Kenya. Their practices include:
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Vermiculture and composting to regenerate soil health
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Biochar application to enrich soil and sequester carbon
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Natural pest control methods that avoid synthetic sprays
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Drip irrigation and sugarcane mulch for water conservation
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Agroforestry systems that promote biodiversity and shade-grown coffee
As Mr. Pius Mutay of Humkel puts it: “Going organic wasn’t just a market decision. It was about doing right by our land and our future. We’ve seen healthier soils, stronger trees, and better yields without compromising the ecosystem.”
What This Means for Spring Valley
This launch reinforces who we are: a specialty coffee company grounded in quality, ethics, and innovation. Kikaboni expands our portfolio and invites our customers to be part of a movement toward better farming, better coffee, and a better future.
And it reminds us that sustainability is not an abstract goal, it’s something that can start in the soil and end in the cup.
Watch our Instagram reel to hear more about Kikaboni’s story and why it matters to us at Spring Valley Coffee.
Kikaboni is now available in all Spring Valley Coffee cafés and online through our website. Shop in Kenya / Shop in the rest of the world.
