Which Country Has The Best Coffee In Africa? A Guide To African Coffee Beans

African coffee beans are famously delicious. But which country has the best coffee in Africa?

African coffee is some of the most loved in the world, particularly when it comes to specialty coffee beans.

But what makes African coffees so special? And which country has the best coffee in Africa?

In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best countries for coffee in Africa and what makes each of them unique.

We’ll also help you figure out which African coffee origin might be the best for you.

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The best African Coffee Beans: Overview

If you came to this page wanting to know what the best African coffees are, let’s make one thing clear: coffee is (very) subjective!

Just as every coffee drinker has their individual preferences for brewing style, they’ll also have their own taste – literally – when it comes to flavour and body.

While only you can decide which country has the best coffee in Africa for your personal tastes, we can help you figure that out faster.

First, it’s important to know that African coffee countries often produce exclusively Arabica or exclusively Robusta coffee.

When it comes to specialty coffee, you want to be looking at the countries that export Arabica beans.

Therefore, the best African coffee beans usually come from one of the following countries:

• Ethiopia
• Tanzania
• Kenya
• Burundi
• Rwanda
• Democratic Republic of Congo

These are the countries that produce high-quality specialty-grade Arabica coffee that roasters like us work with.

If you want to make the best coffee at home, these are the beans you want to look for.

The rest all comes down to personal preference. We’ll take a deeper dive into each of the African coffee countries above in a bit.

Keep reading to find out what makes each African coffee unique and to decide which origin you would like best.

Discover our African coffee beans:

Best African Coffee Beans: In Detail

Before we jump into country specifics, it helps to understand a little bit about how African coffee fares in the world of coffee production.

As a continent, Africa’s coffee production is surprisingly small.

In 2020, African countries produced less than a quarter of the amount of coffee produced by South American coffee countries.

However, for what it lacks in volume, (we think) African coffee more than makes up for with its variety and drinkability.

In fact, more than 50% of the beans we’ve used for espresso and espresso-based drinks such as latte and cappuccino have been single-origin African coffee beans!

Why is African coffee so good?

African coffee beans have some of the most distinctive flavours in the world, with specialty coffee from Africa being loved for its punchy fruity and floral notes.

This is largely due to the geography of the African coffee countries.

The region’s proximity to the equator, ideal elevation, and soil rich with volcanic minerals make for the ideal coffee-growing conditions.

The result is coffee with unique and distinctive flavours – and, for many coffee drinkers, the best coffee in the world.

Which country has the best coffee in Africa?

So, now you know what makes African coffees taste so good, what are the main differences between the different African coffee beans?

Let’s take a look at each of the best African coffee countries and what makes them unique.

Ethiopia

Ethiopia will inevitably come up in pretty much any discussion about the countries with the best coffee.

Not only is it the country that produces the most coffee in Africa, but it’s also the birthplace of coffee.

Therefore, it might come as no surprise that many drinkers consider Ethiopia to have the best coffee beans in Africa.

Unlike many of its coffee-producing neighbours, Ethiopian coffee beans are processed using both wet and dry (natural) methods.

The former usually results in stronger floral flavours – such as jasmine and even Early Grey tea – while the latter brings out vivid fruity notes with mild acidity and medium body.

Tanzania

Although Tanzania is still a relatively unknown coffee country, it boats perfect conditions for growing specialty-grade beans.

As a result, it produces some of the best African coffee beans – albeit in relatively small quantities.

Tanzanian coffees are often comparable to Kenyan coffees (which we’ll get onto next!). They tend to be full-bodied with notes of honey and nuts popping up frequently.

Like most other East African coffee beans, Tanzanian coffees can feature very punchy fruit flavours, especially red fruits and berries.

Kenya

Despite the popularity of Kenyan coffee beans – particularly in the world of specialty coffee – the country isn’t as big of a producer as you may expect.

What it does produce, though, is some of the best African coffee beans available.

Kenya has some of the highest-quality beans in the world, with the Kenyan AA coffee – like our fully washed Wahundura – being highly regarded worldwide.

Coffee beans from Kenya are famous for their sharp acidity – a feature that most drinkers either love or hate!

If you love acidic coffee, you’ll probably consider Kenya as the country with the best coffee in Africa. Otherwise, Kenyan coffee simply might not be for you.

Rwanda

Even though Rwanda is a tiny country compared to others on this list, its coffee beans can make a big impression.

Rwanda produces a high percentage of specialty coffee, with much of it being of the Bourbon variety.

Rwanda produces some of the sweetest African coffees, with delicate and fruity notes that can taste almost like a dessert.

That was certainly true with our Kabyiniro Rwanda coffee, which tasted just like baked apples!

If you have a sweet tooth and like your coffee to be as smooth as can be, Rwandan coffee may just be the one for you.

Burundi

A similarly small country that borders Rwanda, coffee from Burundi isn’t too dissimilar from that of its neighbour.

Its mountainous terrain provides ideal growing conditions for the mostly Bourbon varieties that are cultivated here.

Burundian coffees generally feature very clean, fruity notes with a heavy focus on berries and red fruits such as cherries.

You may also come across smooth flavours such as caramel, which can make for a more dynamic drinking experience.

Democratic Republic of Congo

While much of the coffee production in the DRC focuses on Robusta beans, some of the best Arabica coffee is grown in the mountainous Kivu region.

Although they’re not that common to come by, coffees from here are very unique and worth going out of your way to try.

Coffee beans from the DRC can have a wide variety of tasting notes, from plum and raspberry to black tea and even more unusual flavours such as black pepper.

It’s not uncommon for one flavour to dominate the coffee, making it a great choice for drinkers who like bold coffees with a lingering aftertaste.

Other African Coffee Countries

The countries mentioned above are the only African countries that produce coffee, but they are the main players when it comes to specialty-grade coffee.

Some of other biggest coffee-producing countries in Africa include:

Malawi

While it is still quite rare to come across Malawi in specialty coffee shops, it produces some of the highest-quality coffee in all of Africa.

Malawi produces Arabica coffee beans exclusively, and most make for a very smooth and full-bodied cup.

Uganda

Uganda is one of the biggest coffee producers in the world and is famous for the large volumes of Robusta coffee grown here.

Arabica is only grown is a handful of places and specialty farming practices have only been introduced recently.

That said, Uganda is a growing player on the specialty coffee scene with its citrusy flavours and organic farming methods.

Côte d’Ivoire

Côte d’Ivoire is another African country that produces and exports a substantial amount of coffee.

Once again, the coffee cultivated here is almost exclusively Robusta, but it is also known for its arabusta beans – a hybrid of both Robusta and Arabica.

Cameroon

While Cameroon produces both Arabica and Robusta beans, the focus is heavily on the latter. Most of this is exported to Western European countries, including Portugal.

Arabica coffee is grown in a few regions that offer ideal conditions, including Boyo. Coffee from Boyo is incredibly unique (and usually has a price tag to reflect that!).

Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone is a country that you don’t hear about much in the world of coffee – but that could be about to change.

In recent years, a reemergence of Stenophylla coffee plants has peaked interest among coffee roasters and experts.

Stenophylla beans are similar to Arabica and a sample was recently confirmed to be of specialty grade by the Specialty Coffee Association. So, watch this space!