At a Glance
- Africa’s leading coffee firms span farming, processing, retail, and global export supply chains.
- Businesses drive farmer incomes, sustainability, traceability, and value addition closer to coffee origins.
- From estates to cafés, African brands increasingly reach Europe, Asia, and Middle East consumers.
Africa sits at the heart of the global coffee economy, producing some of the world’s most sought-after Arabica and Robusta beans while supporting millions of livelihoods across the continent.
From the highlands of Ethiopia and Kenya to the volcanic soils of Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda, African coffee businesses are no longer just growers, they are exporters, processors, retailers, and global brand builders.
Today, a mix of heritage estates, multinational traders, modern roasters, and fast-expanding café chains is reshaping how African coffee is produced, marketed, and consumed.
These businesses anchor rural economies, provide income to smallholder farmers, and increasingly push sustainability, traceability, and value addition closer to origin.
Some focus on large-scale export and global supply chains, while others build premium brands that carry African coffee directly to consumers across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
From Kenya’s dominant retail chains and Ethiopia’s storied estates to Morocco’s luxury café brands and Uganda’s export powerhouses, Africa’s coffee sector reflects both tradition and transformation.
Shore Africa has profiled 20 of the continent’s biggest and most influential coffee businesses, shaping markets, empowering farmers, and exporting Africa’s coffee legacy to the world.
1. Java House
Country: Kenya
East Africa’s largest coffee and dining chain, sourcing Kenyan beans while expanding retail footprints across Africa and export markets.
2. Dormans Coffee
Country: Kenya
Founded in 1950, Dormans is a leading roaster producing premium blends, capsules, and coffee solutions for regional markets.
3. Thika Coffee Mills
Country: Kenya
A major exporter of specialty green beans, supplying international roasters with traceable, high-quality African coffee.
4. Volcafe
Country: Kenya operations
A global coffee trader sourcing Arabica through Kenya’s auction system for international export markets.
5. Diamond Coffee Company
Country: Kenya
A long-established exporter specializing in high-grade green coffee beans from Kenya’s top-growing regions.
6. African Coffee Roasters
Country: Kenya
Wholesale-focused processor producing roasted, ground, and capsule coffee for hospitality and retail clients.
7. Coffee Lab Nairobi
Country: Kenya
A modern roastery known for fast delivery, origin-focused roasting, and serving Nairobi’s growing specialty market.
8. Vava Coffee
Country: Kenya
A social enterprise connecting smallholder farmers to markets through ethical sourcing and direct-trade models.
9. Kikwetu Coffee Company
Country: Kenya
A heritage-driven brand offering traditionally grown Kenyan coffee to domestic and export customers.
10. Ciro Coffee
Country: South Africa
A leading importer and roaster supplying hotels, offices, and retailers, with strong training and equipment support.
11. Cafés Carrion
Country: Morocco
A dominant domestic coffee chain operating extensive branded outlets across Morocco’s urban centers.
12. Bacha Coffee
Country: Morocco
A luxury coffee brand originating in Marrakech, exporting high-end Arabica experiences to global markets.
13. Olam Uganda Coffee Estates
Country: Uganda
Uganda’s largest exporter, integrating estates and thousands of smallholders into global supply chains.
14. Sasini Coffee Estates
Country: Kenya
A major producer of high-quality Arabica beans with vertically integrated estate operations.
15. Kaweri Coffee Plantation
Country: Uganda
One of East Africa’s largest plantations, emphasizing scale, sustainability, and export-grade production.
16. Sidamo Coffee Estates
Country: Ethiopia
A globally recognized producer of premium Ethiopian Arabica coffee with strong export presence.
17. Burka Estate
Country: Tanzania
A specialty coffee producer focused on traceability, sustainability, and premium international markets.
18. Kakuzi Coffee Estate
Country: Kenya
An integrated agribusiness producing export-quality coffee with growing emphasis on social responsibility.
19. Kilimanjaro Plantation Limited
Country: Tanzania
A key Arabica producer leveraging Mount Kilimanjaro’s terroir for export-focused coffee production.
20. Huye Mountain Coffee
Country: Rwanda
A specialty producer linking smallholders to global buyers through quality-driven processing and exports.
