Taste of Harvest

About the Taste of Harvest

Taste of Harvest (ToH) is AFCA’s flagship quality and market access program—and Africa’s longest-standing coffee competition.

Designed to showcase the diversity and quality of African coffees, the program brings together producers, exporters, and buyers through a structured journey from national selection to international market access.

Each year, competitions follow harvest seasons across participating countries, combining national quality competitions, regional recognition, and direct engagement with global buyers. Top-performing coffees are showcased at the African Fine Coffees Conference & Exhibition and—for select countries—promoted through curated sample sets and online auctions.

Both national and regional competitions follow the official Taste of Harvest Protocol, ensuring a transparent, consistent, and credible approach to quality evaluation across all participating countries.

Why Taste of Harvest?

Taste of Harvest plays a critical role in strengthening Africa’s position in the global coffee market. By identifying and promoting high-quality coffees, the program helps unlock new market opportunities while building direct connections between producers and buyers.

It also serves as a platform for capacity building, bringing together African and international judges, technical experts, and coffee professionals to strengthen skills and align with global standards.

Through this combination of quality recognition, transparency, and market linkage, Taste of Harvest contributes to elevating African coffee and positioning it more competitively on the global stage.

2025-2026 Season in Review

The 2025–2026 season marked a significant expansion of the Taste of Harvest program. With support from the International Trade Centre under the EU–EAC MARK UP II Project, AFCA scaled the program by updating the official competition protocol, launching an online auction platform, and targeting up to six auctions across five countries.

So far, the program has achieved the following:

• Nine national competitions conducted across Burundi, Cameroon, DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda (2), and Zambia, culminating in a regional competition in Addis Ababa
• Over 674 coffees cupped throughout the season
• A network of 57 African judges and 29 international judges engaged, strengthening both regional capacity and global collaboration
• Two national auctions completed (Burundi and Uganda – Robusta), with 21 lots sold to date
• AFCA’s first Fine Robusta auction conducted in Uganda, marking an important milestone for the sector
• Prices reaching up to $52.25/kg, demonstrating strong international demand for high-quality African coffees

For competition results, please visit here. 

What’s Next

Taste of Harvest continues to expand its reach and impact, with upcoming auctions featuring coffees from Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda (Arabica), and Ethiopia. Buyers will have the opportunity to access these coffees through curated sample sets and upcoming online auctions. Dates will be announced soon.

Register on the Taste of Harvest auction platform to receive sample sets and participate in upcoming auctions.

Looking ahead to the next season, planning is already underway for the upcoming competition calendar. Stay tuned to this page for the latest updates.