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What are the characteristics of Tanzanian coffee and how is it graded?

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Africa is the second-largest continent in the world, predominantly consisting of plateaus that cover over 60% of its area, earning it the nickname "the plateau continent." The entire African continent can be divided into North Africa, Central Africa, South Africa, and West Africa, while coffee is primarily concentrated in the East African region. The East African region is dominated by plateaus, with most areas situated at altitudes above 1,000 meters, making it the highest elevated region on the African continent.

Africa is the second-largest continent in the world, primarily consisting of plateaus that account for over 60% of its landmass, earning it the nickname "Plateau Continent." The entire African continent can be divided into North Africa, Central Africa, South Africa, and West Africa, with coffee cultivation primarily concentrated in the East African region.

The East African region is predominantly plateau, with most areas at elevations above 1,000 meters, making it the highest terrain in all of Africa. The Great Rift Valley runs north-south through the region, featuring numerous volcanoes, lava plateaus, and lakes along its path. The region primarily experiences a tropical savanna climate, while mountainous areas are cool and humid, making it exceptionally suitable for agricultural crops like coffee. Consequently, this region is home to several coffee-producing countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda, with Tanzania being renowned as the "Gentleman of Coffee."

Geography and Climate of Tanzania

Tanzania is located in eastern Africa, with terrain that is higher in the northwest and lower in the southeast. The southeastern region consists of coastal areas, while the western interior is mainly plateau. The Great Rift Valley branches into east and west sections from Lake Malawi, running north-south through the country, and along its path lies Africa's highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro volcano.

Due to its proximity to the equator, the eastern coastal and low-altitude areas primarily experience a tropical savanna climate, while the western plateau has a tropical highland climate. The annual average temperature ranges from 21°C to 26°C. The country receives relatively little rainfall, with most areas receiving less than 1,000 millimeters annually. However, Tanzania possesses abundant water resources, with numerous rivers and many lakes, including Africa's three largest lakes along its borders. With high-altitude mountain regions, volcanic soil, and rich water resources, Tanzania can produce high-quality coffee.

Coffee Growing Regions

Tanzania currently has nine designated coffee growing regions, with the relatively well-known ones being Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Ruvuma, Mbeya, Tarime, and Kigoma. These coffee growing regions are distributed around Tanzania's perimeter.

In the 19th century, Tanzania was a German colony, and coffee was introduced and cultivated by the Germans. Initially, coffee was planted in the Bukoba region of northern Tanzania, but progress was limited due to conflicts with local people. Later, cultivation expanded to other areas but remained concentrated in the northern region.

After Tanzania gained independence, the government began developing the coffee industry and implemented a series of reforms. However, due to coffee leaf rust disease attacks, production significantly decreased, leading to the relocation of the coffee industry to southern and eastern regions.

Kilimanjaro Coffee Region

Among these coffee growing regions, Kilimanjaro, Arusha, and Oldeani are all situated around Mount Kilimanjaro volcano. Mount Kilimanjaro is located in northeastern Tanzania and is the highest mountain on the entire African continent, primarily composed of three dormant volcanoes: Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. The mountain peak is covered with snow year-round, and coffee is cultivated at elevations between 1,050 and 2,500 meters. With sufficient altitude, volcanic soil, and pure meltwater sources, this is the most suitable region for coffee cultivation.

To the south of this volcano lies the Kilimanjaro coffee growing region, which is also home to the region's capital, Moshi. This area hosts Tanzania's largest coffee trade and processing center, primarily responsible for coffee processing and export in the region.

Coffee Grading System

Tanzania's coffee grading system is the same as Kenya's, both based on the size of coffee beans. During screening, raw coffee beans are passed through sieves with fixed-size holes. The larger the sieve number, the larger the raw coffee bean particles.

At FrontStreet Coffee, we also offer coffee beans from this renowned Tanzanian growing region of Kilimanjaro, selected from the Typica variety and processed using the washed method. After brewing, it exhibits gentle acidity with citrus, berry, honey, and nut flavors, a soft mouthfeel with tea-like qualities, and overall balance. FrontStreet Coffee believes that although Tanzania is located in Africa and neighbors countries like Kenya and Rwanda, Tanzanian coffee lacks the bright acidity of its neighbors, featuring instead softer acidity, a richer body and aroma, and overall better balance, giving it unique Tanzanian characteristics.