Africa: Tanzania is emerging as a coffee leader in Africa
Kilimanjaro – Tanzania has emerged as the largest producer of certified coffee in Africa after being ranked among the world’s best, reaffirming the country’s growing influence in the international coffee market.
Certified coffee refers to coffee produced under farming systems that promote environmental sustainability, biodiversity conservation, and improved soil health through the use of certified inputs and organic farming practices.
the Tanzania Coffee Board (TCB) Coffee Marketing and Promotion Director, Frank Nyarosi, said on Tuesday while briefing journalists on the country’s participation and performance at the recently concluded African Fine Coffee Association (AFCA) 2026 Conference and Exhibition, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
“According to the International Continental Coffee Exchange report presented during the conference, Tanzania ranked fourth globally in certified coffee production, behind Brazil, Peru and Mexico,” he said, adding that its presence in the top four in the global rankings makes it first in Africa.
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Mr. Nyarosi said this achievement reflects the country’s growing recognition in the global coffee market and represents an opportunity to expand certified coffee production for broader economic gains.
“This major achievement is good news because it clearly shows that Tanzanian coffee is a global brand, and this report is the opportunity that we should seize as a guideline to continue producing certified coffee in large quantities in order to boost the economy of individuals and the economy of the nation as a whole.”
. He pointed out that changing consumer preferences contributed to increasing demand for certified coffee.
“Consumer demand for organic coffee has increased significantly in recent years, due to the fact that consumers are willing to buy and drink organic coffee cups instead of non-organic cups,” said Nyarosi.
Commenting on other achievements recorded at AFCA 2026, Nyarosi said two local baristas qualified for the semi-finals of the AFCA Barista Competition, which was held on the sidelines of the conference.
He said, “This was the first time that Tanzanian baristas participated in this competition outside the country, and each of them reaching the semi-finals is considered a major achievement that will encourage others to apply in large numbers to participate in this competition in the future.”
The country also performed strongly in the coffee quality rankings, ranking second in Africa in the experimental Arabica category and third in the washed Arabica category.
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“In the experimental Arabica category, we were ranked second by coffee produced and served by the Vinagro farm in Karatu, in the Arusha region, while in the washed Arabica category, we were ranked third by coffee produced and served by WAMACU in the Mara region,” he said.
Mr Nyarosi added that in addition to the awards, participants used the conference to promote investment opportunities in the coffee sector and provide guidance on high-quality coffee production to visitors at the National Exhibition Pavilion, with the support of Tanzania Coffee Board officials.
Looking to the future, he said the AFCA 2026 results are expected to accelerate improvements in coffee quality and production across the sector.
Founded in July 2000, AFCA is a non-profit, member-based association representing producers, traders, government and other support organizations.
Afca currently consists of 11 member states, including Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia.
Headquartered in Kampala, Uganda, the Secretariat has staff represented in other member countries and works to strengthen Africa’s position in the global market for specialty and premium coffee.
