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Zambian Coffee ZAMBIA

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Zambia has long been overlooked by the specialty coffee industry. Some might say it's a chicken-and-egg situation - after all, because specialty coffee buyers showed little interest in this region in the past, there was less investment in improving coffee quality; and due to poor quality, specialty coffee buyers consequently lost interest.

Coffee was introduced to Zambia in the 1950s by missionaries who brought Bourbon coffee seeds from Tanzania and Kenya. However, coffee production didn't begin to grow until the late 1970s and early 1980s with financial investment from the World Bank. The increase in pests and diseases led coffee farmers to start planting the hybrid variety Catimor, though this variety is not as flavorful as Bourbon. This was only a temporary change, as the government later recommended Bourbon again, but there are still considerable amounts of Catimor within Zambia.

Zambia's coffee exports peaked in 2005/2006 with a total volume of approximately 6,500 tons, but have since significantly decreased. Some attribute this to sharp price drops, but the main cause is the industry's lack of long-term financing. Additionally, the country's largest producer ceased operations in 2008 due to loan defaults. Northern Coffee Corp was producing 6,000 tons at the time of its closure, accounting for one-third of the national total. By 2012, total coffee production was only 300 tons, though recovery is gradually returning to normal.

Zambian coffee mostly comes from large estates, though smallholder farmers are also supported. These estates are generally well-managed and equipped with modern facilities (because coffee production started relatively late), and may belong to multinational corporations. Smallholder farmers face significant difficulties in obtaining fertilizers and equipment, and generally produce lower-quality coffee. The lack of water sources and proper post-harvest processing equipment further increases the difficulty of producing clean, sweet coffee.

Coffee Flavor Profile

The rare, exceptional coffees feature distinctive floral aromas and pure fruit notes, with complex flavors.

Traceability

The best Zambian coffees typically come from single estates, though you may need to put in some effort to find them. The country's coffee production is not insignificant, but high-quality coffee is hard to find. Frustratingly, due to coffee varieties and geographical conditions, Zambian coffee actually has tremendous potential.

Growing Regions

Population: 14,580,000 people

2013 production (60kg bags): 10,000 bags

Coffee growing regions within Zambia are not clearly defined and are generally simply categorized as Southern, Central, Copperbelt, and Northern. Coffee is mainly grown in the Muchinga Mountains of the northern region (including Isoka/Nakonde and Kasama districts) as well as near the regional capital Lusaka.

Altitude: 900-2,000 meters

Harvest period: April-September

Varieties: Bourbon, Catimor

FrontStreet Coffee: A roastery in Guangzhou with a small shop but diverse bean varieties, where you can find various famous and lesser-known beans, while also providing online store 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