In the heartlands of Ethiopia, where the lush highlands cradle the birthplace of coffee Arabica, a quiet revolution is taking place. Ethiopian coffee, renowned for its unparalleled quality and unique flavours, is embarking on a journey towards the east, finding its way into the cups of a new and eager audience – China. As the Ethiopian Coffee Association CEO, Gizat Worku, aptly puts it, “China is an emerging market for Ethiopian coffee exporters. Any businessman cannot ignore China whose market potential has turned out to be rich over time.”
In the sprawling landscapes of Ethiopia, coffee is not just a beverage; it’s a tradition deeply rooted in history and culture. Its organic growth in the highlands, free from chemicals or herbicides, produces beans with flavors that range from winy to fruity and chocolaty. This distinctiveness has caught the attention of coffee enthusiasts worldwide, and China, with its rapidly growing coffee culture, is no exception.
Tadesse Degefa, a senior cupper at S.A Bagersh Private Limited Company (PLC), a renowned Ethiopian coffee firm, is at the forefront of this remarkable shift. He witnesses a surge in interest among Ethiopian coffee producers and exporters to penetrate the rapidly growing Chinese coffee market. Degefa is quick to emphasize the uniqueness of Ethiopian coffee beans and their cultivation process. “With the cupping,” he says, “we identify the flavor, the body, the acidity, and the other qualities of the coffee.” This meticulous evaluation ensures that Ethiopian coffee meets the highest standards in terms of body size, flavour, aroma, and more before it embarks on its journey to China.
But what sets Ethiopian coffee apart is not just its taste; it’s the meticulous processes involved in its preparation for export. At S.A Bagersh PLC, the coffee beans undergo two main techniques: sun-drying and wet washing. After pulping, the beans are soaked in a tanker for 32 to 46 hours, followed by repeated washing and drying on nets for at least 21 days. Kassahun Hirutu, the Operation Manager of S.A Bagersh PLC, believes that this attention to detail significantly contributes to the final output’s export standard. He anticipates a significant increase in coffee exports to China, driven by the growing trend and preference for coffee, especially among the Chinese youth, as well as the high-quality of Ethiopian coffee. “We are making good relations with the Chinese. Chinese companies are also approaching us. I think in a couple of years, we will have the same market as other countries, also in China,” he says confidently.
Building positive relationships with Chinese companies has become a cornerstone of Ethiopia’s strategy to gain a foothold in the Chinese coffee market. Wondweson Mengesha, a senior technician at S.A Bagersh PLC, has noticed a notable rise in the volume of organic coffee shipments to China over the past three years. He expresses optimism about the market prospects, particularly in China, where the demand for Ethiopian coffee is growing. “This time around we are sending an increasing volume of coffee to China. We have witnessed a better market there,” Mengesha states.
Ethiopia, Africa’s second most populous nation next to Nigeria, boasts an impressive track record when it comes to coffee exports. The country earned more than 1.3 billion U.S. dollars in revenue from exporting around 240,000 metric tons of coffee to the international market during the just-concluded Ethiopian 2022/23 fiscal year, according to figures from the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority. It’s a testament to Ethiopia’s position as a global coffee powerhouse.
The journey of Ethiopian coffee to China is not merely a trade endeavor; it’s a cultural exchange. China, a nation steeped in the tradition of tea, is embracing coffee with open arms. Gizat Worku, CEO of the Ethiopian Coffee Association, which is engaged in promoting Ethiopian coffee in the international market, acknowledges the evolution of the coffee market in China. “China is an emerging market for Ethiopian coffee exporters,” he states emphatically. Worku’s insights reveal a remarkable trend in Ethiopian coffee’s growth in China. According to him, Ethiopia’s coffee export volume to China has seen impressive growth: 4,200 tonnes in the 2019/2020 Ethiopian fiscal year, 8,400 tonnes in the 2020/2021 fiscal year, and a staggering 11,200 tonnes of coffee in the last fiscal year, which ended on July 7, 2022.
The optimism among Ethiopian coffee exporters is palpable. They believe that within the coming 10 years, more Ethiopian coffee might find its way to China. The Ethiopian Coffee Association is ready to meet this growing demand with timely delivery of what they refer to as “de facto organic” specialty coffee. The unique flavors, organic cultivation, meticulous preparation, and rich history of Ethiopian coffee make it a gem that the Chinese coffee market is only beginning to discover.
As Ethiopia’s coffee flows into China, it’s not just about exports; it’s about the cultural exchange that happens one cup at a time. It’s about the stories and traditions that accompany each sip, bridging the gap between these two ancient cultures. In this emerging partnership between Ethiopia and China, coffee is the messenger of flavour, history, and the promise of a rich and aromatic future.
