We are in the presence of a revolution, a revolution of farmers! In case you hadn't noticed, revolutions are no longer about warfare. Today revolutions are spiritual, technological or ideological. Furthermore, the leaders no longer die for their cause, but instead, seek refuge in a neighbouring country until the danger passes or they simply change their beliefs. This is precisely what has happened in Kenya, a revolution. The coffee farmer's revolution!
Although, according to our records collected over the years, we had established that Kenya was the African country where the best price per kg of cherry was paid (about 1 USD per kg). But the coffee farmers were not happy with that, and who is? We all want more, it's part of our human nature. The problem here was not greed, but rather that many of them did not generate enough income to cover their production costs. This resulted in many of them giving up coffee, in favour of more profitable crops such as avocado or macadamia.
In the beginning, the Nairobi Coffee Exchange was a coffee auction system, which was established by the English and adopted by Kenyans. Since 1963, the system allowed importers and roasters to discover coffees from different regions of the country in the comfort of the capital, where everyone could analyze and cup these coffees to select the best. I cannot forget an occasion in 2017, when the coffee farmers of Ndaro Ini, one of the most famous cooperatives in Kenya, were in the NCE auction hall. That day, their coffee reached the record price of 750 USD per 50 kg, and the jumping and shouting of their well-deserved joy enlightened us all.
How are we going to find the excellent coffees produced in the most remote highlands of Kenya, if in some of these areas there are not even roads? The auction system allowed the best coffees that the country produced to be concentrated and analyzed under equal conditions in one place. The beauty of the system was that the best quality lots obtained the best price. A fair system that encouraged competition, hard work and development. But maybe, all that idea about competition, efficiency and justice will be over soon, and we might need to take “refuge” in a neighbouring country.
We are still evaluating the new Kenyan lots and assessing the efficiency of the new system. Rest assured that we will keep you fully informed of any news.
Enjoy your Kenyan coffee!
How are we going to find the excellent coffees produced in the most remote highlands of Kenya, if in some of these areas there are not even roads? The auction system allowed the best coffees that the country produced to be concentrated and analyzed under equal conditions in one place. The beauty of the system was that the best quality lots obtained the best price. A fair system that encouraged competition, hard work and development. But maybe, all that idea about competition, efficiency and justice will be over soon, and we might need to take “refuge” in a neighbouring country.
We are still evaluating the new Kenyan lots and assessing the efficiency of the new system. Rest assured that we will keep you fully informed of any news.
Enjoy your Kenyan coffee!
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