The Rise of Rwanda’s Specialty Coffee
Nova Coffee Ltd, a company based in Gicumbi, has experienced an impressive surge in demand for its coffee following its outstanding performance at a competition and online auction in 2024. According to the company’s owner, Agnes Mukamushinja, this demand has now exceeded their production capacity. Last year, Nova Coffee’s specialty green (unroasted) coffee was sold for $71.8 per kilogramme during an online auction that featured the 18 top coffees from the inaugural Best of Rwanda Specialty Coffee Competition. This price marked a record high in Rwanda’s coffee history, as it was 14 times higher than the average international coffee price at the time.
A year later, Mukamushinja noted that the impact of the competition and online auction is unmistakable, highlighting how such platforms enhance Rwanda’s coffee visibility and market reach. She reported that coffee sales have increased by a third compared to last year, although demand still exceeds production. Mukamushinja projects that Nova Coffee’s total sales will rise by about 80 per cent by the end of the current year. However, she chose not to disclose the sales volume in the media.
A New Record Set in 2025
On October 8, a new record was set when a batch from K Organics Ltd, based in Huye District, fetched $88.18 per kilogramme (around Rwf130,000) in the 2025 online auction. This broke the previous $71.8 record set by Nova Coffee in 2024. The 2025 edition of the Best of Rwanda Specialty Coffee Competition saw more than $304,000 (over Rwf440 million) generated from the sale of about 11,210 kilogrammes of coffee. Bidders from countries including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, France, the US, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, South Africa, Greece, Poland, Germany, and the UK participated in the auction.
In comparison, the 2024 edition raised just over $165,000 from 6,600 kilogrammes of coffee. For Evariste Karangwa, representing K Organics Ltd, receiving the highest bid for his coffee was a tremendous honour. He observed that the achievement highlights their dedication to producing high-quality coffee and that the recognition would allow him to reinvest in farming activities, further improving coffee quality and supporting the livelihoods of the community.
The Role of the National Agricultural Export Development Board
Sandrine Urujeni, Chief Operations Officer of the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), stressed the importance of maintaining high standards to achieve even higher prices at the Best of Rwanda coffee auction. She acknowledged that the previous record price per kilo was surpassed by over $10 and emphasized the need to raise the bar even higher. “Now we are raising the bar high, so we have to ensure that, next time, we reach at least $100 per kilo,” she said.
Urujeni praised the competition, now in its second edition, as “a good initiative” and called for continued collaboration and quality improvement across the coffee sector.
Why It Matters
According to Oreste Baragahorana, Chairperson of the Coffee Exporters and Processors Association of Rwanda (CEPAR), the Best of Rwanda competition and its online auction aim to promote Rwandan coffee globally and attract premium buyers. “The main purpose is to showcase Rwanda’s coffee on the global stage. Although the quantities sold are small, they represent all Rwandan coffees and serve as a marketing platform,” he explained.
He added that the auctions encourage buyers to explore other Rwandan coffees, helping boost international demand and overall market presence. “Most of the auction revenue goes back to farmers to motivate them to increase production,” Baragahorana said, adding that top producers also benefit by gaining international recognition and attracting more direct buyers who scramble for their coffee.
As per NAEB, farmers who supplied coffee (cherries) to processing factories are allocated 75 per cent of the Best of Rwanda auction revenues, while the factories get 25 per cent corresponding to the costs they incur in the process. It indicated that the Best of Rwanda National Specialty Coffee Competition, an annual event organised by NAEB and partners, aims to showcase the finest coffee produced by farmers, enhancing visibility and access to international markets.
Boosting Rwanda’s Coffee Exports
Under the fifth Strategic Plan for Agricultural Transformation (PSTA 5), Rwanda aims to increase its annual coffee export revenues from $78.7 million in 2023/24 to $115.5 million by 2029, representing a 46.8 per cent rise. Baragahorana believes the Best of Rwanda Coffee Competition and online auctions will play a role in achieving this target.