Ruiru 11 is a composite Kenyan F1 hybrid bred from many parent lines to combine high yield with CBD resistance.
Ruiru 11 is a composite F1 hybrid released in Kenya in 1985 by the Coffee Research Foundation (now KALRO), from a Catimor line (female parent) crossed with a multicross selection involving K7, SL28, N39 and Rume Sudan among others (male parent). It is dwarf/compact, very high yielding, highly rust-resistant and resistant to coffee berry disease (CBD), traits WCR links to a 1968 CBD epidemic that cost Kenya about half its production. Wikipedia's variety list says it produces a lower cup quality than K7, SL28 and SL34.
Field notes
- i
Ruiru 11 is a composite variety, deliberately built from many parent lines (a Catimor plus K7, SL28, N39, Rume Sudan and others).
- ii
WCR ties its development to a 1968 coffee berry disease epidemic that led to the loss of about half of Kenya's production.
Family tree
Ruiru 11 is an F1 hybrid of Catimor and K7 and SL28 and N39 and Sudan Rume.
In the cup, according to guides
- BalanceLessWikipedia's variety list says Ruiru 11 produces a lower cup quality than K7, SL28 and SL34.
Grown in
- Kenyaorigin
Sources · 4 Every sentence here was checked against a source we read. Taste notes are what guides describe, not promises about your bag. Last revised 2026-11-11.
- Arabica Varieties — A global catalog of Arabica coffee varieties from around the world (PDF, rev. Sept 4, 2025) · World Coffee Research
- World Coffee Research variety page: Ruiru 11 · World Coffee Research
- List of coffee varieties · Wikipedia
- Coffee Variety Glossary · Cafe Imports