Drinking coffee is one of the quality drinks with lots of health benefits that we cannot ignore. According to health research, drinking a cup of coffee daily can help you with burning fat, reducing the risk of cancer, and staying focus and alert on your daily performance.
Locals Drinking Coffee in Uganda
Uganda, despite being the second largest coffee producer in Africa, Ugandans for a decade, never discovered the importance of drinking coffee and instead preferred taking tea. However, today things have changed, and a new trend is in town. There is a new culture in the younger generations going for coffee to have the sweetest taste of cappuccino or espresso. There is a rising number of coffee shops in Kampala, showing the new shift from tea to coffee.
The Operations Direction of Endiro Coffee, Joyce Ochwo, gives a brief insight into the new coffee consumption in Uganda.
“For Ugandans, it’s just the matter of introducing it to them in a way that is relatable for them to appreciate it in different ways. Some prefer it mild, some are beginners, some are experts I would say for the stronger blends of coffee, but it’s just a journey.”
Ugandan Coffee doing well in international markets
For decades Ugandans have not been great consumers of coffee. The nation’s coffee production is majorly for export, with a bigger population of the country depending on coffee farming for livelihood.
According to the reports by the Uganda Coffee Board, coffee sales to the external markets went up with 17 percent pricing at 4.7 million (60kg) between the years 2015 to 2018. The government reports in May this year show an increase from the 17 to 18 percent valued at 416.2 million in the 2018-19 financial year evaluation.
Owner of Volcano Coffee and Coffee Barista Extraordinaire, Mr. Gerald Katabazi, tells the behavior with a strong beverage of Ugandans since the old ages. Traditional coffee in Uganda was seen as a white man’s and only rich people’s product. The past myths, experiences the people have from the colonists like British Ugandan coffee consumption was at a minimum rate close to 1 percent. However, due to the advancement in technology, changes in consumer behavior in the local and external markets. The quality of coffee consumption has changed from the low 1 to 6 percent, which is good news to the coffee farmers.
Katabazi, who is a famous businessman in the town, is looking for eyeing high domestic coffee consumers. He is using the coffee bar shops to attract more local consumptions. He also owns an academy where he coaches the youngsters of baristas at his shop. This move will create jobs and also enable successful candidates to set up their coffee shops across the country. And as well as empower other jobless youths.
Big Potential for Local Industries
There is a considerable possibility of thriving coffee business in Uganda soon. One of the trained coffee barista Shafiq Jemba is proud of the possible opportunities that are yet to come.
“We see a lot of people exporting coffee from Uganda because people don’t take coffee. But as we barristers who have trained we are here to inspire people to make the suitable products for the people so that they can get and love and call others for the coffee products,”
During this global pandemic, with disrupted economies, Uganda is earning huge sums from coffee exports. It might also do well in its local market when coffee gains more popularity in the country.
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