Characteristics of African Coffee - Introduction to Coffee Bean Varieties and Flavors from Different African Regions

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FrontStreet Coffee - African Coffee Origins: Introduction to Kenyan Coffee Grades

Coffee Producing Countries

More than one-third of countries worldwide produce coffee, with most located between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn. Each country produces different types of coffee, and some regions have their own unique characteristics. Some countries have one or two harvests per year, while others have very long harvest seasons, meaning they can pick coffee throughout most of the year. Today, we'll briefly introduce the coffee characteristics of major African producing countries.

Burundi

In the specialty coffee arena, Burundi is an increasingly recognized player. Perhaps because of this, it's easy to forget that most Burundians live in dire poverty: in 2013, the country ranked second on the Global Hunger Index. Burundi is one of Africa's smallest countries, with coffee grown throughout. About 150 centralized washing stations, mostly government-owned (though this is beginning to change), form the backbone of the country's coffee business, processing coffee collected from hundreds of small family farms. This operational model offers little traceability, which has raised concerns, though authorities are now taking measures to improve information flow from farmers to roasters. The bacterial disease "potato defect" from neighboring Rwanda once severely damaged Burundi's coffee industry but now seems under control. Burundian and Rwandan coffees share very similar flavor profiles.

Ethiopia

Ethiopia is considered the birthplace of coffee by countless people, and today it may be the world's most exciting coffee-producing country. Numerous natural native varieties of Typica present a rich and colorful array of wonderful coffee experiences. From floral and peach notes to sweet lemon, chocolate, Assam tea, and wild berry intoxicating flavors, the country's coffee flavors are extremely diverse. Coffee from the Harar region (especially natural-processed) is highly regarded, while washed coffees from the southern Yirgacheffe region are absolutely exceptional.

Kenya

Tea is Kenya's main export commodity, accounting for 21% of the country's total export income - nearly four times coffee export revenue. Although Kenya's coffee production is not high, its quality is unquestionable. It was the first coffee that made me understand the true meaning of coffee - with help from other coffees, of course - and it still amazes me today. Kenyan coffee cherries are red and black, plump and juicy, famous worldwide for their acidic characteristics. Kenyan coffee is mostly grown in large coffee plantations or small farms in the central and western regions, with hybrid varieties of Typica such as SL-28, SL-34, and K7 combined with washed processing increasingly becoming mainstream.

Rwanda

In recent years, Rwanda has struggled through numerous disasters, with the 1994 genocide event eliminating nearly one-tenth of the country's total population. Coffee has played an important role in Rwanda's recovery process, with the emergence of Bourbon and Mbirizi (a Rwandan genetic mutation of Bourbon) providing truly eye-opening experiences. The finest Rwandan coffees display rich and mature fruit notes, but be extremely careful of the notorious "potato defect" - this bacterial disease is the enemy of coffee cherries.

Tanzania

Except for Ethiopia, Tanzania shares borders with all major African coffee-producing countries, so it's conceivable that the country's coffee-producing terroir and climate are equally perfect. Robusta coffee is widely grown in the northwestern region near Lake Victoria, accounting for the majority of the country's total coffee exports. Around Mount Meru in the northern highlands, coffee plantations have been established, mainly growing Arabica varieties such as Bourbon, Kent, and Typica, with juicy characteristics that are quite intriguing.

Uganda

Uganda is Africa's second-largest coffee-producing country after Ethiopia. This might sound strange at first, as high-quality Ugandan coffee is rarely found on the market. The reason is simple: Uganda mainly grows native Robusta coffee, and it's the world's second-largest Robusta coffee exporter after Vietnam. Uganda's Arabica coffee has typical African characteristics - high-yielding and juicy; coffee beans from the western regions are relatively heavier, with natural-processed ones commonly known as "Natural DRUG" and washed-processed ones called "Washed UG."

Knowledge Extension

Coffee comes in rich and diverse varieties. Coffee beans from different regions are affected by terrain, environment, and other factors, resulting in distinctive flavor characteristics. The main coffee-producing areas are between the equator and 15 degrees north latitude.

In Brief

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