Coffee from Angola

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March 17, 2022
Coffee from Angola

A while back, Angola was actually the fourth largest coffee producer in the world. Between 1975 and 1976, it was producing 1 million bags of coffee per year, and also exporting most of it. Sadly, a thirty-year-long civil war has done unbelievable damage to both the people and economy and consequently the coffee sector. Even so, there is still a glimmer of hope, as more than 4 million displaced people are constantly looking for solutions to return to their communities and help them restore. 

The backstory

Unless you are highly informed about coffee, you might not have heard about Angola before. It is located in Southern Africa, and it is bordered by Congo, Zambia, Namibia, and the South Atlantic Ocean. For comparison, it is about twice the size of Texas, so approximately 80.000 square miles. In this small land, about 10 million people try to earn a daily living.

The coffee industry in Angola was once characterized by large plantations that we're able to provide 70% of the whole country’s annual crop. The farms where these plantations could be found also had processing facilities and were mostly run by  Portuguese settlers.

After the country was able to receive independence, many of these large coffee plantations ended up being nationalized. This was not necessarily a good thing, because the new farm owners no longer had the expertise needed to keep them going. If this were not enough, it was also hard to find enough labor power. This situation caused the yields to decrease substantially. 

Even though many state Angola coffee farms were privatized in the 1990s, they were mostly subdivided, and the farmers met difficulties in their rehabilitation. The ongoing civil war also created security issues that were interfering with their work.

The coffee profile

The Angola coffee has gained itself a reputation for its remarkable Robusta. It provides a pleasant and rather neutral taste after it is brewed. We think that it is needless to say that because of the harsh conditions, finding Angola coffee is actually quite the task. This is the reason why it can be rather hard to determine its tasting notes. 

Also, even though it was once admired for its quality, the current events seem to have a direct impact on it. Many reported that the now Angola coffee has many imperfections, like the old taste, insufficient moisture, and a yellowish bean. 

We eagerly expect Angola to stabilize and get back what it owns: highly acclaimed coffee. When this happens, the coffee market will be more than happy to support its import, as there is high demand, especially in North America and Europe. 

A brighter future ahead

There seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. Coffee production in Angola is expected to increase steadily thanks to the governmental support of farmers assisting the industry. This has included a revitalization program in which the government grants micro-credits to coffee growers and offers them an opportunity to start making real changes and improve their service. 

From a marketing point of view, local distributors and wholesalers work together with green coffee importers in specific target countries to assure that the customs are clear and ready for their comeback. They also make sure to provide a steady supply of unroasted green coffees to coffee roasters, this way is safe from being forgotten. It is clear that the market demand for unique coffees is at an all-time high with Starbucks investing in more Starbucks Reserve stores, and Angola coffee presents a unique opportunity to experience a truly remarkable single-origin coffee. Their economic power also stands in the fact that these coffees can always be incorporated in the blends of different, and even more successful brands for an unmatchable flavor.

Even though we will probably have to wait a little longer until we will be able to taste Angolan coffee, we are excitedly looking forward to it. Make sure to keep an eye out for its comeback, because it will definitely find us unprepared. We expect nothing more than the best, but until then, all the amazing coffees that we already have at our disposal will have to be enough. While waiting, make sure that you try as many options as possible, so you will be able to have an expert’s opinion when it finally arrives.