Arabica · Coffee Variety
Batian
Batian — named for Mount Kenya's highest peak — is the Kenyan program's modern flagship: disease-resistant like Ruiru 11 but tall-statured and selected hard for cup quality, aiming to close the gap with SL28 entirely.
Released in 2010, it reaches bearing quickly and produces large beans with a bright, complex Kenyan profile. Adoption grows steadily as seedlings spread through county programs; top Batian lots now appear in auction lists with cups that satisfy even SL loyalists.
Batian at a glance
| Species | Arabica |
|---|---|
| Lineage | Advanced selection from Kenya's breeding program (SL28, SL34, Rume Sudan and resistant lines), released 2010 |
| Plant stature | Tall, open frame |
| Yield potential | High |
| Disease resistance | Resistant to coffee berry disease and leaf rust |
| Optimal altitude | 1,400–2,000 m |
| Bean size | Large |
| Cup profile | Bright blackcurrant-citrus complexity approaching SL28, with clean sweetness |
Where Batian is grown
Batian — frequently asked questions
How does Batian differ from Ruiru 11?
Batian is tall where Ruiru is dwarf, and was selected a generation further for cup quality — its profile sits closer to the classic SL standard while keeping the same disease resistance.
Why is it named Batian?
After Batian Peak, the highest summit of Mount Kenya — a statement of the breeding program's ambition for the variety.
Is Batian replacing SL28 in Kenya?
Gradually complementing rather than replacing: new plantings favor resistant varieties, but SL28's installed base and auction prestige keep it dominant in existing high-value farms.
Sourcing Batian? Volcana Coffee grows and exports high-altitude Catimor, Typica, and washed Fine Robusta from the Bolaven Plateau, Laos — with SGS-inspected quality and full export documentation.
Request a SampleRelated coffee varieties
Typica
Clean, sweet, silky body with delicate citrus and floral notes at altitude.
Bourbon
Caramel sweetness, balanced citric acidity, buttery mouthfeel.
Caturra
Bright citric acidity, sugar-cane sweetness, lighter body than Bourbon.
SL28
Blackcurrant, grapefruit, tomato-vine acidity, wine-like body — the classic Kenya profile.