Trouvez du café vert Democratic Republic of Congo en vente

The Congolese coffee industry began toward the end of the 19th century when the crop was introduced by European settlers. Part of its introduction was to fill a production gap left by Indonesia after suffering from coffee leaf rust. Over time, Congolese coffee saw steady production, and by the 1970s, the country was a leading exporter. Production worked to advance the economic prosperity of its citizens, functioning as an integral part of the economy. It provided a solid livelihood for many people, and empowered thousands of the individual farmers.

Production was halted by civil wars and political instability during the 1990s however. The events of the 90s severely hindered many coffee growing regions, which the industry is still dealing with. This is not helped by dangerous conditions across the border, offering challenges for coffee exportation.

Even during peacetime, the effects of the 90s are still affecting coffee production in the DRC, unaided by corruption, political, and social issues. Regardless of these challenges, the DRC is constantly working on reviving its industry. While it may struggle to reach its high production figures of the 20th century, the Congolese coffee sector is now working more toward a focus on producing high quality beans. This development has been promising as the country has seen growth in its industry over the last few years.

Today, the DRC is reemerging as a producer of specialty coffee, aided by investment and support. The country offers ideal elevations of 1400-2000masl, along with rainforest cover, and volcanic soils. These conditions are perfect for nurturing sweet, high quality arabica crops.

The DRC offers a main harvest season from April, then a fly crop between September to January. This gives you a few options for sourcing Congolese coffee. It is best to start planning procurement a few months before either season begins.
You can then expect your coffee to be shipped from 1-3 months after either of these dates.

When sourcing specialty coffee beans from the DRC, it is best to look into some of the cooperatives operating throughout the country. You can look into associations such as Furaha, Muungano, and Sopacdi. Contacting any of these cooperatives will enable you to learn about the smallholder coffee industry, and can connect you to the wider Congolese coffee growing network.

Make sure to take the time to do your research into your options as it will give you the best chance of finding the perfect product for your business.
After researching deeper into your available producers, it is then best to get in touch with them directly. This will enable you to better understand how your prospective producer works. You could then organise a visit, or a virtual tour.
If you are happy with your producer, you can then begin to organise shipments. Always ensure that their paperwork and certifications are correct and up to date.

Congolese coffee is known for its full body and bright, citric acidity. A high quality cup will offer vibrant and aromatic fruity notes of strawberry, apple, honey; finished with a chocolatey aroma