Specialty Coffee from Zambia: The Story of Africa's Hidden Gem

When we talk about great specialty coffee from Africa, our minds often wander straight to the cradle of coffee in Ethiopia or the berry-filled flavor bombs of Kenya. But deep within the Central African plateau lies a growing and incredibly exciting secret: Zambia .

As a coffee country, Zambia is still something of a hidden gem for many coffee lovers, but today the country produces specialty coffees of amazing quality. Let’s delve into the unique history, terrain, and flavors behind Zambian coffee!

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A young story with a tough start

Unlike many of its neighbors, coffee came relatively late to Zambia, introduced by missionaries as late as the 1950s. Before that, the country's exports were almost exclusively based on its rich copper resources.

Once coffee cultivation began, it quickly faced major challenges. The first coffee plants introduced were severely affected by diseases in the subtropical climate, leading to minimal harvests. But the Zambians did not give up.   During the early 1980s, production took off in earnest and in 1985 the country was able to begin exporting coffee internationally for the first time under the International Coffee Organization (ICO) quotas.

Since then, the industry has had its ups and downs.   In 2015, production reached a critical low due to extreme weather and a lack of financing for farmers.   But thanks to new investments and a strong focus on quality, the industry has made an impressive recovery.

Perfect heights and rare terrain

Geographically, Zambia has fantastic conditions for growing high-quality Arabica coffee. As the country is located on a high plateau, most of the land area is above 1,000 meters above sea level, which is the minimum limit for good Arabica.

The absolute hub for Zambian specialty coffee is the mountainous   Northern Province .   Here, the coffee is grown at altitudes between 1,300 and 1,600 meters above sea level, where the cool nights and warm days allow the coffee berries to ripen slowly and develop complex flavors.   Some coffee is also grown around the capital Lusaka and in regions such as Serenje and Mazabuka.

The coffee industry in Zambia is uniquely divided: it consists partly of small farmers (who grow on less than 10 hectares of land), and partly of five large, well-established coffee plantations that drive large-scale quality development.

The flavor profile: What can you expect in the cup?

Traditionally, Zambian coffee is mostly   washed processing , which produces a very clean, sweet cup with a bright and fresh acidity.

Zambia's harvest season runs from May to August.   Since processing takes place during the country's dry season, the strong sun provides completely optimal and even conditions for drying the coffee beans.

In recent years, however, Zambian producers have begun to experiment more and more to highlight completely new flavor dimensions:

• Pulped Naturals (Honey): A method that is becoming increasingly popular in Zambia.   By leaving some of the pulp in during drying, the farmers manage to dampen the intense acidity and instead add a fantastic, full-bodied sweetness to the coffee.

• Anaerobic fermentation: In the northern parts, very exciting experiments are being done today with oxygen-free (anaerobic) fermentation, which results in extremely complex, fruity and unique flavor profiles.

Overall, coffee from Zambia offers a harmonious experience with moderate complexity, pleasant body and a balanced character that offers a softer profile than, for example, the often very acidic coffee varieties from East Africa.

The future of Zambian coffee

Quality control and exports in the country are largely supported by the Zambia Coffee Growers Association , which is working hard to put the country on the world map for specialty coffee.   Today, the best batches are sent primarily to Europe, the USA, South Africa and Japan.

For us at Hälla Kafferosteri, it is precisely this type of hidden origin that makes the world of coffee so magical.   Discovering a country that struggles with weather and economic challenges, but through pure passion and innovation manages to produce world-class coffee, is exactly what specialty coffee is all about.

Keep an eye out for our range – the next time we get the chance to get our hands on a unique batch of Zambian specialty coffee, we'll make sure to roast it to perfection for you!

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

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Have a nice day!
/ Kaj and Dan, Hälla Coffee Roastery