Who speaks for specialty coffee? Across the industry, a unified global voice—one that speaks for all members of the supply chain—is needed.
BY OGLAH MOROGO
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE
Featured photo by Camylla Battani
What to know:
- Voices from either end of the supply chain—those in producing countries and those in consuming countries—are often at odds or not in communication at all
- Stronger collaboration between members of the specialty-coffee industry can help the sector better address issues like climate change, conditions in coffee-growing countries, and more
- At the African Fine Coffees Conference & Exhibition earlier this year, representatives from numerous organizations emphasized the need for a “global unified voice” in the specialty-coffee industry, with the voices of those in producing countries at the forefront of critical conversations
Over the years, specialty coffee has become an important aspect of cultures around the world. In the past decade alone, the industry has expanded significantly, forming a bridge between two distinct but related industries: hospitality and agriculture. The café experience is ultimately shaped by members of two seemingly separate but deeply connected fields—the producers who grow the coffee, and the baristas who turn the crop into direct consumer experiences.
The interconnected nature of the coffee industry is increasingly calling for collaboration across these sectors. And yet, specialty coffee still appears to be missing one crucial component shared by other major international industries: a unified voice capable of representing stakeholders across the supply chain.
There are many reputable organizations working to support different aspects of specialty coffee, but no single platform currently represents the global specialty-coffee community as a whole. At the African Fine Coffees Conference & Exhibition hosted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, early this year, representatives from groups like the African Fine Coffees Association (AFCA), International Coffee Organization (ICO), and Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) initiated discussions about the industry’s need for greater collaboration.
These discussions highlighted a broader question: What could the industry accomplish if its many voices were able to speak collectively?
Says AFCA Chairperson Amir Hamza, “Greater collaboration and a shared vision are essential to strengthening the continent’s position in the global coffee industry.”
A unified voice to speak for coffee’s future
Within the last thirty years, specialty coffee has grown from a niche interest into a widespread global industry. Coffee producers, roasters, café workers, researchers, traders, and educators all play important roles within the sector. However, many of these stakeholders continue to operate independently and often disagree with one another on critical issues, making it difficult for the industry to collectively address challenges.
As the specialty coffee sector lacks a unified worldwide voice, it continues to face challenges in promoting research, funding, and sustainable agricultural practices. To move through critical challenges, members of the industry must learn to appreciate regional distinctions while becoming more cohesive, supportive, and goal-aligned.
Addis Ababa sparks a broader conversation
At the start of this year, these issues came into focus during the African Fine Coffees Conference & Exhibition, where coffee professionals from Africa and other regions gathered to discuss the future of the industry. While attendees outlined that collaboration between organizations is necessary, they also made one message clear: Voices from producing countries need to be amplified when it comes to conversations around coffee quality, sustainability, and the overall future of the industry.
The need for greater representation for producing countries was also underscored by the recent establishment of the Specialty Coffee Association of Ethiopia, with members emphasizing that, though Ethiopia is the genetic birthplace of arabica coffee, its potential has historically remained “unexplored and undervalued.” Echoing the group’s sentiments, AFCA Executive Director Gilbert Gatali reflected on the importance of hosting the 2026 African Fine Coffees Conference & Exhibition in Ethiopia’s capital city. “(Addis Ababa) provided the absolute perfect backdrop to showcase the roots of the finest specialty coffee to an international audience,” he says.
What would a global unified voice for specialty coffee sound like?
When searching for a global voice for the specialty-coffee industry, it’s important to get clear on what it would sound like. First, it would be one to unite coffee-producing and consuming nations—and, instead of dominating conversations, its primary role would be to find common ground between the industry’s differing stances on critical global issues.
Ultimately, a unified voice would serve as a conduit for discussions and collaboration on a variety of subjects, such as enhancing climate resilience, improving living conditions for producers, coffee quality and sustainability standards, research innovations, workforce development, and raising consumer awareness.
Perhaps this voice does not yet exist—but as members of the industry, it should be our common goal to find it.
Oglah Morogo is a freelance writer and emerging coffee farmer based in Ainabkoi Constituency, Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. A third-generation farmer, she combines inherited agricultural knowledge with a growing passion for coffee and commercial farming of wheat and maize.
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