African man harvesting coffee beans

7 Best African Coffee Brands That You Must Consider

Audrey
Audrey Harrison
Home brewer

The history of coffee includes lots of places in it. And among them, Africa has lots of contributions.

(Even the place Ethiopia of the African continent is known as the origin of coffee.)

For many years, this continent has had great soil and weather that have helped grow some of the best coffee beans in the world.

Coffee is more than just a drink in Africa. It brings people together and is a big part of their culture and traditions.

Each place in Africa adds its own special taste to the coffee. This is because of things like how high the area is, the amount of rain it gets, and the kind of soil there.

In this article, I will give you a list of the best African coffee brands that you must consider while looking for authentic coffee grown in Africa.

Let’s start.

Considerations When Choosing African Coffee

1) Origin

The reason for considering origin is that the different parts of Africa have different types of coffee.

For example, coffee from Ethiopia is usually fruity and light, while coffee from Kenya is more acidic and strong.

So if you are aware of the place from where your coffee comes, it can help you find a taste you like.

2) Roast Level

If you are a regular coffee brewer, you very well know how coffee is roasted affects its flavor.

African coffees can be lightly or darkly roasted. Light roasts keep more of the bean's original flavors, like floral or fruity tastes, while dark roasts taste smoother and richer.

3) Freshness

Coffee tastes best when it's fresh. Look for coffee that shows when it was roasted, not just when it expires, to make sure it's fresh.

4) Processing Method

The way coffee beans are cleaned and dried changes their flavor. The coffee beans grown in Africa are often washed, which usually makes the coffee taste cleaner and sharper.

7 Best African Coffee Brands

1) Aroma Ridge Tanzania Peaberry Coffee

Aroma Ridge Tanzania Peaberry Coffee

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The coffee beans used by this brand are grown on the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro at elevations of 5,895 meters.

These beans are special because of their unique round and small shape, occurring in only about 5% of harvested beans and requiring hand selection.

This coffee has a smooth, buttery body with delicately sweet and acidic notes.

As you sip, you'll taste hints of lemongrass, plum, and light nougat, complemented by a sweetness reminiscent of dark chocolate.

To ensure freshness and quality, the coffee beans are roasted in small batches.

This brand directly imports their beans, maintaining close relationships with all their estates and growers.

2) Volcanica Kenya AA Coffee

Volcanica Kenya AA Coffee

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You can experience the pure essence of Kenya with Volcanica Coffee's Kenya AA whole bean coffee.

This brew offers a rich body, vibrant acidity, and a fragrant aroma for a memorable coffee experience.

The flavor is complex and delightful, with prominent notes of raspberry, cranberry, fresh-cut redwood, and alyssum-like flowers.

These beans are roasted to a medium/light level. It has also got the "AA" grade designation which signifies the very largest beans, which naturally contain the highest amount of aromatic oils.

These oils enhance the coffee's flavor and aroma, ensuring a truly exceptional cup of coffee with every brew.

To guarantee freshness, Volcanica Coffee roasts its Kenya AA beans in small batches and immediately packs and seals them. This ensures that you always get a fresh cup of coffee.

3) Screen 18 Kenyan Medium roast grounds

Screen 18 Kenyan Medium roast grounds

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These AA-graded beans from Kenya are known for their exceptional quality.

They are grown at elevations higher than 6,600 feet to absorb more nutrients and develop perfect flavors.

Known for rich fruit and berry flavors, deep wine-like acidity, and a pleasing aroma, this coffee is full-bodied, bold, and juicy.

This brand uses a sorting screen to select the finest and highest quality coffee beans.

The beans used to make this ground are 100% Arabica and roasted to medium-dark level.

The beans are then ground to a universal grind size, perfect for brewing at home.

It also comes in a premium kraft coffee bag with a de-gassing filter for optimal freshness.

The thick foil-lined bag ensures that your ground coffee stays fresh for longer, preserving its delightful flavors.

4) Tanzanian Peaberry by Fresh Roasted Coffee

Tanzanian Peaberry by Fresh Roasted Coffee

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You can enjoy the rare and delightful taste of Tanzanian Peaberry with Fresh Roasted Coffee's whole bean offering.

This coffee has a smooth and full body, with distinct notes of lemon, peach, and black tea.

Sourced from the Mbeya region in Tanzania, this single-origin coffee is of the Bourbon varietal and is processed using the farm-washed method before being sun-dried.

Also, this coffee is kosher-certified.

The light roast level of the Tanzanian Peaberry beans allows the natural flavors to shine through, providing a delightful and nuanced taste experience.

With each cup brewed, you'll savor the rich flavors and unique characteristics of this rare and exceptional coffee varietal.

5) Nairobi Java coffee

Nairobi Java coffee

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You can enjoy the exotic flavors of Africa with Nairobi Java Coffee's ground coffee blend.

This blend combines pure Arabica coffee beans from Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda for a rich and complex flavor.

These beans are hand-roasted in small batches.

This medium-roast coffee is great for those who like a balanced and flavorful cup.

Sourced from Kenya's rich volcanic soils, the beans give the coffee a unique and exotic taste.

Each bag of this product is carefully packed to keep the coffee fresh and flavorful until you're ready to brew.

6) Aroma Ridge Malawi Mapanga Coffee

Aroma Ridge Malawi Mapanga Coffee

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This unique Malawi Mapanga Coffee from Aroma Ridge is available in whole bean form.

This coffee comes from Malawi, Africa's smallest coffee-growing country, known for great coffee since 1890.

Most of Malawi's coffee goes to Britain, showing its reputation for quality and taste.

Malawi Mapanga Coffee has a special flavor, known for its great quality and limited supply.

Each 1 lb bag has whole beans that are freshly roasted, vacuum-packed, and shipped when you order, so every cup is fresh and flavorful.

7) Coffee by Hudson Roasters

Coffee by Hudson Roasters

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This Fair Trade coffee comes from Ethiopia.

The 100% Ethiopian Sidamo natural Ardi coffee offers a unique blend of strawberry notes and a floral finish.

These whole beans are medium-roasted.

What is African Coffee?

Basically, the coffee that is grown in the African continent is called African coffee.

This coffee comes from many countries and is famous for its different climates and rich soils. This makes it some of the world's most special and wanted coffee.

It has many flavors, from fruity and flowery to nutty and spicy, depending on where it's grown.

For example, coffee from Ethiopia often tastes flowery and like berries, while Kenyan coffee is more likely to taste like citrus and berries with strong acidity.

Most African countries grow Arabica beans, but some places grow Robusta beans too.

The unique tastes of this coffee are also affected by the high altitudes, warm climates, and volcanic soils where they are grown.

Important Coffee Growing Regions of Africa

While discussing the top coffee brands of Africa, we can’t neglect to discuss the important African coffee-growing regions.

Let’s discuss them too.

1) Ethiopia

This place is often considered where coffee first came from. Ethiopia is famous for its many different coffee flavors.

Some of the places like Yirgacheffe, Sidamo, and Harrar grow some of the most wanted coffees with flowery, fruity, and wine-like tastes.

Here, you can explore our curated list of the best Ethiopian coffee brands as well.

2) Kenya

Kenyan coffee is very valued for its strong acidity, full body, and fruity flavors.

Coffee from areas like Nyeri and Kirinyaga is especially famous for its rich and lively tastes.

3) Rwanda

Coffee from Rwanda is known for its sweet, flowery, and citrusy flavors. The Bourbon and Arabica beans from Rwanda are famous for their great quality and special taste.

4) Tanzania

Tanzanian coffee, especially from Arusha and Kilimanjaro, is known for its strong acidity, medium body, and wine-like tastes with hints of fruit and flowers.

5) Uganda

Ugandan coffee, especially from Bugisu, is known for its rich, full body and flavors of chocolate and nuts. It's often used as a base in espresso blends.

6) Burundi

Coffee from Burundi is known for its strong acidity, medium body, and flavors of flowers and fruit. Coffee from the Kayanza region is very respected for its quality.

Wrapping up

From the highlands of Ethiopia to the volcanic soils of Rwanda, each region has something new to offer in coffee.

In African-origin coffee, you will get various tastes of coffee from fruity and floral to nutty and spicy.

But at the same time, you need to be sure that you are buying authentic African coffee from a trustworthy brand.

In this article, I have listed the brands that offer authentic coffee grown in Africa. I hope this curated list will help you choose the right product.

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Audrey Harrison

Team TAB
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I am a coffee aficionado based in Seattle. I have devoted my passion and expertise to perfecting the art of home coffee brewing. I became known for my exquisite pour-over and espresso creations. I source coffee beans from local roasters and explores ...