The 21st African Fine Coffees Conference & Exhibition, hosted by the African Fine Coffees Association (AFCA), brought together top coffee professionals, industry leaders, and producers from across the continent. As part of the conference, AFCA proudly hosted the 2024-2025 Regional Taste of Harvest Competition and the 2025 Africa Barista Championship, highlighting excellence in coffee quality and barista skills across Africa.
Regional Taste of Harvest Competition
The highly anticipated Regional Taste of Harvest Competition – AFCA’s flagship coffee quality competition – took place from February 25-27, 2025, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The competition featured 96 Arabica and Robusta coffee samples from eight AFCA member countries, evaluated by a panel of six regional and international judges, led by Head Judge MUKAYISENGA Grace of Hills Coffee Lab Rwanda.
Top 3 Winners – Washed Arabica:
1. Nardos Coffee Export (Ethiopia)
2. ES Coffee (Ethiopia)
3. New KPCU (Kenya)
Top 3 Winners – Natural Arabica:
1. Lulo Coffee (Ethiopia)
2. Demelash Bekele (Ethiopia)
3. Mountain Harvest SMC Ltd (Uganda)
Top 3 Winners – Honey Processed Arabica:
1. Mountain Harvest SMC Ltd (Uganda)
2. Kebir Coffee Export (Ethiopia)
3. Yihonal Trading (Ethiopia)
Top 3 Winners – Robusta Coffee:
1. Ubumwe (Tanzania)
2. Ankole Coffee Producers Cooperative Union (Uganda)
2. Terrific Coffee (Cameroon)
3. Terrific Coffee (Cameroon)
Please note that the 2nd Place coffees were tied.
Africa Barista Championship
The Africa Barista Championship showcased the region’s top talent, with 22 baristas from 12 African countries competing for the prestigious title. The competition, judged by a panel of 14 regional and international experts, tested participants on technical skill, creativity, and sensory evaluation. Régine Guion-Firmin, SCA Trainer based in Kenya and owner of MAU MAU Kahawa Ltd, acted as Head Judge of the Championship.
1. Stevo Kühn, South Africa
2. Ibrahim Kiganda, Uganda
3. Teresia Maina, Kenya
Some of these talented baristas will go on to represent Africa on the global stage, demonstrating the growing talent and expertise within the continent’s coffee sector.
Africa Barista Bootcamp
Before the championship, AFCA, in partnership with International Trade Centre’s Alliances for Action, La Marzocco, and Atom Coffee Hub, hosted a two-day Barista Bootcamp, hopefully the first of more to come! Over 20 baristas from across Africa gathered in Dar es Salaam for an intensive training program led by industry experts and African barista professionals such as Régine Guion-Firmin, Sara Yirga (YA Coffee Roasters), Smayah Uwajeneza (Elevate Through Coffee), and Erika Koss (A World in Your Cup Consulting), with call-ins from Cxffeeblack and Black & White Coffee Roasters. The Bootcamp focused on refining technical skills, improving sensory analysis, and preparing participants to compete under the World Barista Championship (WBC) Protocol.
Celebrating African Coffee Excellence
AFCA extends its deepest gratitude to all competitors, judges, sponsors, and partners who made these events possible. “These competitions not only showcase the incredible talent and craftsmanship within Africa’s coffee industry but also drive quality and innovation,” said Gilbert Gatali, Executive Director of AFCA. “They provide a platform for companies and individuals to access new markets, elevate their careers, and expand business opportunities. Beyond the competition, the experience itself fosters learning, collaboration, and long-term professional growth for all participants.”
The 21st African Fine Coffees Conference & Exhibition has once again proven to be a landmark event, fostering collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and market access for African coffee stakeholders. Stay tuned for more highlights and updates as we continue championing Africa’s finest coffees on the global stage.
