From the 2025 Africa Barista Competitors. All pictures courtesy of AFCA.

The twenty first African Nice Coffees Convention & Exhibition lately concluded in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, shining a lightweight on a number of the best coffees and most proficient baristas all through the area. 

Produced by the nonprofit African Nice Coffees Affiliation — which has chapters in 11 African coffee-producing international locations — the occasion celebrated espresso producers by the 2024/2025 Regional Style of Harvest inexperienced espresso competitors.

This 12 months’s Style of Harvest competitors featured 96 Arabica and Robusta espresso samples from eight international locations. Head Decide Mukayisenga Grace of Hills Espresso Lab Rwanda led a panel of six regional and worldwide judges for the occasion. 

2024/2025 Regional Style of Harvest Espresso Competitors Winners

Prime 3 Winners – Washed Arabica
1) Nardos Espresso Export (Ethiopia)
2) ES Espresso (Ethiopia)
3) New KPCU (Kenya)

Prime 3 Winners – Pure Arabica
1) Lulo Espresso (Ethiopia)
2) Demelash Bekele (Ethiopia)
3) Mountain Harvest SMC Ltd (Uganda)

Prime 3 Winners – Honey Processed Arabica
1) Mountain Harvest SMC Ltd (Uganda)
2) Kebir Espresso Export (Ethiopia)
3) Yihonal Buying and selling (Ethiopia)

Prime 3 Winners – Robusta Espresso
1) Ubumwe (Tanzania)
2 – tie) Ankole Espresso Producers Cooperative Union (Uganda)
2 – tie) Terrific Espresso (Cameroon)
3) Terrific Espresso (Cameroon)

The AFCA is internet hosting a “Meet The Winners” webinar on April 8. 

Baristas, in the meantime, introduced effective coffees to even finer conclusions by the Africa Barista Championship. A number of of the opponents shall be representing their respective nations on the world stage on the SCA’s World Barista Championship (WBC). 

Twenty-two baristas from 12 African international locations competed for the title this 12 months, with 14 regional and worldwide espresso consultants judging technical ability, creativity, and sensory analysis. Régine Guion-Firmin, an SCA-certified coach primarily based in Kenya, and proprietor of Mau Mau Kahawa Ltd, served as head choose. 

2025 Africa Barista Championship Winners

1) Stevo Kühn, South Africa
2) Ibrahim Kiganda, Uganda
3) Teresia Maina, Kenya 

“These competitions not solely showcase the unimaginable expertise and craftsmanship inside Africa’s espresso trade but additionally drive high quality and innovation,” AFCA Government Director Gilbert Gatali stated in an announcement from the group. “They supply a platform for corporations and people to entry new markets, elevate their careers, and broaden enterprise alternatives. Past the competitors, the expertise itself fosters studying, collaboration, and long-term skilled development for all members.”

Previous to the barista championship, the AFCA and quite a few companions — together with the Worldwide Commerce Centre’s Alliances for Motion, La Marzocco, and Atom Espresso Hub — held a two-day barista bootcamp, which is anticipated to be the primary of many from the AFCA.

Consultants together with Guion-Firmin, Sara Yirga (YA Espresso Roasters), Smayah Uwajeneza (Elevate By means of Espresso), Erika Koss (A World in Your Cup Consulting) helped lead the bootcamp, with call-ins from representatives of U.S.-based corporations Cxffeeblack and Black & White Espresso Roasters. In line with the AFCA, the bootcamp helped greater than 20 baristas refine technical abilities, enhance sensory evaluation and put together to satisfy protocols for WBC.  

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