African Coffee Market Analysis | African Coffee Bean Varieties | Best African Coffee Brands

Professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account: cafe_style)

African Coffee Consumption Surge Creates New Territory and Challenges

On the African continent, coffee beans have long been cultivated as cash crops, but mostly for export, with domestic demand traditionally very low. In countries like Kenya and Uganda, people often prefer to drink cheaper tea. However, according to data from consumer research firm Euromonitor, between 2009 and 2014, coffee demand within Africa increased by 20%. David Barry, a commodity trader in Uganda, commented on these results, stating that the growth in domestic coffee consumption and the establishment of a coffee culture are extremely beneficial for producing countries, and that "farmers can gain a better understanding of quality."

A strong domestic market can protect coffee-producing countries from the impacts of international price fluctuations and demand volatility. In recent years, coffee prices have been on a rollercoaster due to production variations in Brazil, the world's largest producer. The price of Arabica coffee beans, which the country primarily produces, once rose to $2.29 per pound last year but had fallen to $1.16 by September this year.

Kenya: 46% Consumption Surge in 5 Years

Roberio Oliveira Silva, Executive Director of the International Coffee Organization (ICO), points out that in countries like Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, and Uganda, the rise of the urban middle class in recent years has led to more people drinking coffee. According to the Kenyan Coffee Traders Association, coffee consumption in the country surged by 46% between 2010 and 2014.

Demand for coffee in Uganda has also increased significantly. "More people can now afford coffee, and sales have increased accordingly," says Martin Maraka, Planning Manager for the African Fine Coffees Association. Additionally, doctors have debunked myths about the health impacts of drinking coffee. Maraka notes, "10 years ago, there were no coffee shops in Kampala, the capital of Uganda. Now there are 30 to 40, all serving premium coffee."

Even so, compared to Italy and Brazil, coffee consumption in African countries remains relatively low. According to ICO estimates, Italians drink an average of 5.8 kg of coffee per person per year, Brazilians 6.2 kg, while in Ethiopia, Africa, each person drinks only 2.5 kg annually, Madagascar 1.28 kg, and Côte d'Ivoire 0.8 kg.

Potential and Challenges of African Coffee Production

The potential of African coffee consumption has attracted the attention of both local and international coffee merchants, but the question remains: can the African continent become self-sufficient in coffee?

African-grown coffee beans are renowned for their fruity flavors and complex nuances. Between 1965 and 1988, eight African countries ranked among the world's top 20 coffee-producing nations, but now only four remain in the top 20. African coffee beans are among the most refined varieties in the world, but except for Uganda and Ethiopia, coffee production in other producing countries has declined significantly.

ICO research data indicates that the key lies in production efficiency. Ethiopia can produce 13 bags of 60kg coffee beans per hectare annually, Uganda 12 bags, which pales in comparison to Brazil's 50-60 bags and Vietnam's nearly 40 bags.

Farmland Reduction Threatens Production

Another challenge facing African producing countries is rapid urbanization and increasing land values. Affected by surging domestic real estate demand and severe fluctuations in international coffee prices, many producers have sold their agricultural land. In Kiambu, a city northeast of Nairobi, Kenya's capital, Belgian coffee company Socfinaf sold 13,500 hectares of local farmland to construction companies, with nearly 2,000 hectares used for housing construction that can accommodate 80,000 households.

Despite facing these challenges, experts remain optimistic about African coffee production. They believe that as long as smallholder farmers improve their professional knowledge of cultivation and processing, production could increase tenfold. Barry points out that Uganda increasing production by another 2 bags per hectare annually is a feasible future goal.

Recommended African Coffee Bean Brands

FrontStreet Coffee's roasted African coffee beans—including Ethiopian, Kenyan, and Burundi varieties—offer excellent guarantees in both brand and quality. More importantly, they provide exceptional value for money. A half-pound (227g) package costs only around 80-90 yuan. Calculating at 15g of coffee per pour-over cup, one package can make 15 cups of coffee, with each single-origin cup costing only about 6 yuan. This represents extremely high value compared to café prices that often run dozens of yuan per cup.

FrontStreet Coffee: A Guangzhou-based roastery with a small storefront but diverse bean varieties, where you can find both famous and lesser-known beans, while also providing online shop services. https://shop104210103.taobao.com

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473