Rwandan coffee producers have graced the Amsterdam Coffee Festival for the fourth time in a bid to increase the status of their coffee brand and attract more buyers.

The festival, which started on March 30 and ends on April 1, is an excellent opportunity for Rwanda to showcase its coffee to the world.

The Ambassador of Rwanda to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Olivier Nduhungirehe, who also attended the festival, said that the event would help Rwanda to increase awareness of its coffee brand and attract more consumers.

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The Rwanda Coffee stand (G45) represents eight Rwandan coffee brands, including Baho Coffee, Kanya Coffee, Kivu Belt Coffee, Mountain Coffee, Mubuga Coffee, Nova Coffee, Rwashoscco, and Sake Coffee.

The founder and chief executive of Baho Coffee, Emmanuel Rusatira, said that showcasing their coffee in the Netherlands is essential because it is an important market for coffee.

He also said that the Netherlands is a gateway to international markets and that having good relations with the Dutch coffee market gives Rwandan coffee producers access to other destinations through the Port of Rotterdam and the Port of Amsterdam.

The Netherlands is the fifth-largest consumer of coffee in the world, with its citizens drinking around four cups of coffee daily, which amounts to approximately 80 kilogrammes of coffee annually. It is also the third-largest exporter of roasted coffee globally, after Italy and Germany.

The country is also the seventh-largest buyer of green coffee from different countries, including Rwanda.

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In 2022, Rwanda exported 466 metric tons of coffee worth USD 2.3 million (approximately Rwf2.5 billion) to the Netherlands, according to the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB). These figures show Rwanda’s growing interest in the Dutch coffee market, and the potential for the country to increase its coffee exports to the Netherlands.

The Amsterdam Coffee Festival is an important event for coffee lovers, roasters, and producers, providing an opportunity to showcase their coffee to a wider audience.

As the demand for high-quality coffee continues to increase, Rwandan coffee is poised to make a significant impact on the international market. By attending events like the Amsterdam Coffee Festival, Rwandan coffee producers hope to position themselves and take advantage of this growth opportunity.