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Zambia Coffee Bean Varieties Introduction - Flavor Profile and Aromatic Characteristics

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information. Please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style). FrontStreet Coffee - Zambia Coffee Introduction: Zambia is located in central Africa, south of the equator, named after the Zambezi River that originates from this land. It is a peaceful and friendly country with gentle people, suitable climate, and stable investment environment. Like many African countries

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

FrontStreet Coffee - Introduction to Zambian Coffee

Zambia is located in central Africa, south of the equator, named after the Zambezi River that originates from this land. It is a peaceful and friendly country with gentle people, suitable climate, and stable investment environment. Like many African countries, coffee is also one of its main cultivated crops, which is certainly benefited by its suitable climate conditions and abundant water resources.

It is said that Zambian coffee is very similar to Kenyan coffee, just slightly lighter in flavor. They indeed have close connections because the original Zambian coffee was introduced from Kenya. In 1950, Zambia introduced Bourbon varieties from Kenya and Tanzania into the country, thus beginning coffee cultivation. Now, Zambian coffee cultivation areas are mainly concentrated in the Kasama region in the north and the Nakonde and Isoka regions near the capital Lusaka.

Everyone knows that eastern and southwestern Africa are the birthplaces of coffee worldwide. Since Zambian coffee is of the same variety series as Kenyan coffee, both are high-quality Arabica original varieties, they also have equivalent requirements in cultivation conditions and rating standards. The best coffee comes from high-altitude areas. The grading standards are based on screen size, in the order of PB (peaberries), followed by AA++, AA+, AA, AB. The processing method for green beans generally chooses the washed processing method, handled quite carefully with high standards.

Zambian coffee beans are particularly popular among consumers in Europe and America. Like most coffee beans grown in Africa, they possess the characteristic of wildness. They have moderate richness and wine-like flavors. Compared to Kenyan coffee's strong berry flavors, Zambian coffee leans more towards floral and fruity aromas. The aftertaste with a slight sage finish is also its unique feature, making it impressive.

In Zambia, coffee and tobacco are its traditional advantageous agricultural products. The coffee cultivation area is about 5,000 hectares, with an average annual total output of about 4,500 tons, and annual export value exceeds 8 million US dollars. In recent years, coffee cultivation has shown steady growth. Europe is its traditional market, and in recent years, with its high-quality and stable characteristics, it has also opened the door to the American market.

Summary

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