Kenya Ndaroini – Temple Coffee Roasters

Temple Coffee Roasters out of California was one of the first specialty coffee roasters I came to love years ago. Their Dharma Espresso blend is a classic and they are consistently spot on with their single origin options. The first time I ordered from them, they weren’t able to ship out the coffee the same day it was roasted and as a result sent a second, new bag a few days later. I was blown away by that commitment to quality and freshness. My most recent experience with Temple featured their Festivity Blend (a wonderfully bright, nutty and rich holiday blend that was perfect over Christmas) and this single-origin Kenyan.

The coffee began with a rich fragrance filled with notes of dark fruit, dried fruit and chocolate. During brewing the dark chocolate notes took the front seat and led into a rich flavor profile with similar chocolate and berry notes. The acidity was fairly subdued, but the body was rich and full. The mouthfeel was silk smooth, thick and juicy—a true delight. The sweetness was equally rich and lingered into the finish that continued to sit heavy on your tongue.

The Bottom Line

Kenya Ndaroini is a true testament to what a Kenyan coffee can be. It was rich with a wonderful depth in flavor. There was so much complexity, but it was still approachable and balanced (something not always true for Kenyan coffees).