2024 Cafe Show China: Introducing Local Enthusiasts to African Coffee Scents
2024 Cafe Show China: Introducing Local Communities to the Aromas of African Coffee
TroibNews 
The 2024 Cafe Show China began in Beijing on Friday, showcasing diverse coffee cultures from around the globe to Chinese consumers, with authentic beans from Africa taking center stage.
The exhibition attracted government officials, coffee importers, and farm owners from prominent coffee-producing nations like Uganda, Rwanda, and Ethiopia, ahead of the upcoming Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit set to commence in Beijing on Wednesday.
Ethiopia, considered the birthplace of coffee, kicked off the event with a traditional coffee brewing ceremony known as Kahawa, typically performed by a woman.
Munteha Jemal Seid, Plenipotentiary Minister of the Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, conducted the ritual, which spans 2-3 hours. She roasted green coffee beans over an open flame until they turned brown, ground them into crumbs, and mixed them with boiling water in a specialized pottery pot. Spectators were drawn to the unique experience and enjoyed the freshly brewed coffee.
"All coffee, especially arabica coffee, comes from Ethiopia. Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee," she stated in an interview with CN. "We are promoting these coffees to Chinese people, especially to the younger generation, who are increasingly becoming coffee enthusiasts."
In recent years, the younger demographic has emerged as a significant force in China's coffee consumption market.
According to data from Statista released in 2023, most coffee enthusiasts in China fall within the age brackets of 25 to 34 (36.2%) and 35 to 44 (30.2%). However, older coffee buyers were also intrigued by African coffee culture at the event.
"We traveled from Hebei Province to Beijing to visit the show," shared 65-year-old Ms. Yuan, who attended with her husband. "We just bought four bags of coffee beans from Uganda, and we prefer their perfect bean shape, thick crema, and rich aroma."
This year, Ugandan exporters Amumpaire Frandan and his brother Tumukunde Frandan brought their coffee beans to Beijing for the first time, hopeful about their prospects in the Chinese market.
The coffee industry is crucial to Uganda's economic growth and serves as a livelihood for many locals, passed down through generations, according to Tumukunde Frandan.
"Uganda's coffee ranks third best in the world and second in Africa. Currently, Uganda exports 6.7 million bags of coffee beans to China, which accounts for about 5 percent of Uganda's coffee export market share," Amumpaire Frandan explained to CN.
"By 2025, it aims to export 20 million bags. We are looking forward to meeting new clients and new customers from China because we want to shift our market focus to China now," he added.
In addition to Ugandan exhibitors, Rwandan coffee promoters are also eyeing opportunities in the Chinese market. "Through coffee, all the Chinese learn about Rwanda and Rwanda benefits from the market in China, knowing about China. It's a win-win situation for both countries," said Zimulinda M.U. Victorien, an advocate from a Rwandan exhibitor.
Coffee was introduced to Rwanda by the Germans in the early 1900s, and currently, 97 percent of Rwandan coffee production is arabica, predominantly the bourbon variety, with robusta making up the remaining 3 percent.
Victorien noted that coffee plantations help enhance Rwanda's greenery, contributing positively to the country's climate change efforts.
A recent report by China's National Development and Reform Commission indicated that China-Africa trade reached a historic high of $282.1 billion in 2023, with coffee classified as a key agricultural item. The report emphasized that China has been Africa's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years.
(Cover: The 2024 Cafe Show China is held in Beijing, China, August 30, 2024. /CN)
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
The exhibition attracted government officials, coffee importers, and farm owners from prominent coffee-producing nations like Uganda, Rwanda, and Ethiopia, ahead of the upcoming Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit set to commence in Beijing on Wednesday.
Ethiopia, considered the birthplace of coffee, kicked off the event with a traditional coffee brewing ceremony known as Kahawa, typically performed by a woman.
Munteha Jemal Seid, Plenipotentiary Minister of the Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, conducted the ritual, which spans 2-3 hours. She roasted green coffee beans over an open flame until they turned brown, ground them into crumbs, and mixed them with boiling water in a specialized pottery pot. Spectators were drawn to the unique experience and enjoyed the freshly brewed coffee.
"All coffee, especially arabica coffee, comes from Ethiopia. Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee," she stated in an interview with CN. "We are promoting these coffees to Chinese people, especially to the younger generation, who are increasingly becoming coffee enthusiasts."
In recent years, the younger demographic has emerged as a significant force in China's coffee consumption market.
According to data from Statista released in 2023, most coffee enthusiasts in China fall within the age brackets of 25 to 34 (36.2%) and 35 to 44 (30.2%). However, older coffee buyers were also intrigued by African coffee culture at the event.
"We traveled from Hebei Province to Beijing to visit the show," shared 65-year-old Ms. Yuan, who attended with her husband. "We just bought four bags of coffee beans from Uganda, and we prefer their perfect bean shape, thick crema, and rich aroma."
This year, Ugandan exporters Amumpaire Frandan and his brother Tumukunde Frandan brought their coffee beans to Beijing for the first time, hopeful about their prospects in the Chinese market.
The coffee industry is crucial to Uganda's economic growth and serves as a livelihood for many locals, passed down through generations, according to Tumukunde Frandan.
"Uganda's coffee ranks third best in the world and second in Africa. Currently, Uganda exports 6.7 million bags of coffee beans to China, which accounts for about 5 percent of Uganda's coffee export market share," Amumpaire Frandan explained to CN.
"By 2025, it aims to export 20 million bags. We are looking forward to meeting new clients and new customers from China because we want to shift our market focus to China now," he added.
In addition to Ugandan exhibitors, Rwandan coffee promoters are also eyeing opportunities in the Chinese market. "Through coffee, all the Chinese learn about Rwanda and Rwanda benefits from the market in China, knowing about China. It's a win-win situation for both countries," said Zimulinda M.U. Victorien, an advocate from a Rwandan exhibitor.
Coffee was introduced to Rwanda by the Germans in the early 1900s, and currently, 97 percent of Rwandan coffee production is arabica, predominantly the bourbon variety, with robusta making up the remaining 3 percent.
Victorien noted that coffee plantations help enhance Rwanda's greenery, contributing positively to the country's climate change efforts.
A recent report by China's National Development and Reform Commission indicated that China-Africa trade reached a historic high of $282.1 billion in 2023, with coffee classified as a key agricultural item. The report emphasized that China has been Africa's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years.
(Cover: The 2024 Cafe Show China is held in Beijing, China, August 30, 2024. /CN)
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
