Specialty Coffee from Angola: The Story of the Return of a Forgotten Giant

When we at Hälla Kafferosteri talk about African coffee, most people usually think of the floral elegance of Ethiopia or the fresh acidity of Kenya. But there is a country on the southwest coast of the continent that carries one of the coffee world's most fascinating – and dramatic – stories . We are talking about Angola .

In its heyday, Angola was an absolute giant on the global coffee scene . Today, there is a quiet, persistent and incredibly exciting movement underway to rebuild the country's coffee production with a focus on quality and craftsmanship. Join us on a journey to an origin that is about to awaken from a long slumber!

👉 Do you want to learn more about African coffee?

https://hallakafferosteri.com/blogg/afrika

From the top of the world to a new beginning

Coffee was introduced to Angola by Portuguese settlers as early as the 1830s, and it wasn't long before cultivation took off . The first official coffee plantation was established in 1837 by a Brazilian farmer . Over the following decades, the industry grew steadily, reaching its peak in the early 1970s .

In 1974, Angola produced over 5.2 million 60-kilogram bags of coffee, making it the third largest coffee producer in the world . The country became known primarily for its high-quality Robusta .

But when Angola gained independence in 1975, the country was immediately hit by a long and devastating civil war . Coffee farms were abandoned, infrastructure destroyed and the once-mighty coffee industry almost completely collapsed . The large plantations that dominated the 20th century were wiped out . During its heyday, coffee was grown on almost 600,000 hectares of land – a figure that has shrunk to around 40,000 hectares today .

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Small farmers' coffee and unique Robusta varieties

Today, the coffee landscape in Angola looks completely different. Instead of the old colonial estates, 85% of production is now run by dedicated small farmers, often cultivating on areas of less than 5 hectares .

Although coffee cultivation is still very labor-intensive and is characterized by challenges with transportation and inadequate equipment, the country's great strength is its biodiversity . Angola has unique, regional varieties of Robusta trees named after their growing locations, such as :

• Amboim Robusta: Considered the finest in both price and taste .

• Ambriz Robusta

• Cazengo Robusta

• Cabinda Robusta

Most of this Robusta is processed according to the traditional Natural method   where the coffee berries are allowed to dry whole in the African sun, which gives a full, strong and sweet profile .

Did you know that although Angola is historically known for its Robusta, the country also produces a smaller proportion of Arabica? This Arabica coffee is currently processed half as washed and half as natural .

👉 Do you want to learn the difference between Arabica and Robusta:

https://hallakafferosteri.com/blogg/vad-ar-skillnaden-mellan-arabica-och-robusta-kaffe-guide-till-kvalitet-och-smak

The future and the path towards specialty coffee

Although export volumes are currently a fraction of what they once were, the curves are pointing upwards . In 2020, Angola exported just over 27,000 bags of coffee – an increase of 30% compared to the previous year .

To give the coffee industry a major boost, government initiatives and the National Coffee Institute (INCA) have launched several exciting recovery programs . In the historic region of Amboim – which was hit hard by the civil war – large resources have been invested to replant thousands of hectares of Robusta land . At the same time, projects have been launched to distribute thousands of Arabica cuttings to family farms in mountainous areas to create new, sustainable livelihoods .

As infrastructure improves and farmers gain access to better knowledge and equipment, the world is once again turning its attention to Angola. The growing global trend for "Fine Robusta" and unique microlots of Arabica mean that the country has every opportunity to find its new niche in the specialty coffee market .

Keep an eye out at Hälla Coffee Roastery

For us at Hälla Kafferosteri, stories like Angola's fuel our passion. To see a country with such a rich coffee culture rise from the ashes and start producing coffee with a focus on quality over quantity is amazing .

We are following the developments in Angola with excitement and hope to introduce a unique, well-aged and characterful gem to our range in the future. Until then, we will continue the hunt for the world's best specialty coffee with the utmost care in our roastery!

👉 Do you want to drink specialty coffee? Then visit our webshop:

https://hallakafferosteri.com '

Have a nice day!

/ Kaj and Dan, Hälla Coffee Roastery