At the African Fine Coffees Conference & Exhibition in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, earlier this year, leaders from prominent industry organizations issued a call for a more unified global voice for the specialty coffee sector. The discussion centered on the need for greater collaboration across the supply chain to collectively address systemic challenges, from climate change to conditions in producing countries.
Despite its significant global expansion, the specialty coffee industry remains fragmented, with numerous organizations representing different segments. During the conference, representatives from the African Fine Coffees Association (AFCA), International Coffee Organization (ICO), and Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) initiated talks on this lack of a single, representative platform. AFCA Chairperson Amir Hamza stated that “greater collaboration and a shared vision are essential to strengthening the continent’s position in the global coffee industry.”
A key theme emerging from the discussions was the need to amplify the voices of stakeholders in coffee-producing nations. Attendees stressed that these voices must be at the forefront of conversations about quality, sustainability, and the industry's future. This sentiment was echoed by the recent formation of the Specialty Coffee Association of Ethiopia, whose members noted that the country's potential has historically been “unexplored and undervalued,” highlighting the demand for greater representation from origin.