Specialty Coffee

The Specialty Coffee value chain is a niche market for the region with the potential for high export earnings.  While Specialty Coffee has made inroads into new markets such as the U.S. and Japan, coffee consumption in the region with the exception of Ethiopia remains very low. In a consumer-driven marketplace, quality is the primary driver for economic viability of the Specialty Coffee industry.

There are a number of key positive developments that position the Specialty Coffee sector to be a leading growth sector in the ECA region.  These include:

• Existence of a Regional Trade Association (RTA), the Eastern African Fine Coffees Association (EAFCA) which brings together firms and key players in the SC value chain whose reach and influence extends to all SC producing countries in the ECA region including South Africa providing a regional industry platform and voice for the sector

• Convening of the African Fine Coffee Conference and Exhibition which has become a major calendar event for the international coffee fraternity resulting in exposure and market growth for African fine coffees

• Development of web-based market information systems that have facilitated linkages enabling increased intra- and extra-regional trade to occur

• Linkages between EAFCA and key global players such as ICO, CQI, and major buyers such as Starbucks, Peet’s and Green Mountain Coffee resulting in globally recognisable brands for African fine coffees 

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