Despite Kenya being one of the top coffee producers globally, most of us Kenyans don’t actually drink much of it. Crazy, right? We’re talking about a country churning millions of tonnes of coffee each year, yet tea is the nation’s go-to beverage. And, fun fact, Kenya produces way more tea than coffee!
Now, Kenya is no slouch regarding coffee quality—Kenyan coffee is consistently ranked among the top five in the world. It’s a specialty coffee, adored by roasters for its fruity, acidic, and overall complex flavor profile.
Ironically, the very farmers who grow this world-class coffee rarely taste it, let alone most residents. Why? Well, nearly all of it is exported for that sweet foreign exchange.
A small percentage of Kenyans do drink coffee, but most of them stick to instant coffee like Nescafé Classic. The fancy specialty coffee is reserved for export or those specialty coffee shops in Nairobi (the capital) that only a select few ever visit.
The average Kenyan grows up on tea. And not just any tea—Kenyan tea is also world-renowned. But, just like coffee, the best of it gets exported, leaving the local market with what can generously be described as lower-grade tea.
So, when it comes to beverages, Kenyans are used to tea, and even then, they don’t get the best of what their country produces.
Why Tea Over Coffee in Kenya?
So, why is tea more popular in Kenya than coffee? A lot of people tie it to our colonial history. Kenya was once a British colony, and as we all know, the British love their tea.
That influence has lingered long after independence, making tea the beverage of choice for most Kenyans. Plus, tea is cheaper and more accessible compared to coffee, especially when we’re talking about good, locally-grown specialty coffee, which is priced high and hard to find. A pack of 100 tea bags is approximately $1 and 400g of average at best coffee beans go for over $10
But here’s where it gets interesting—while the older generations are firmly in the tea camp, the younger crowd, particularly Gen Z, is warming up to coffee. While there is no Starbucks in Kenya there are two local coffee shop chains; Java House and Artcaffe they both cumulatively make over 200 coffee shops in a city of 5 Million inhabitants, those are many coffee shops for the city considering the majority of the population doesn’t drink coffee, and for those who do can’t justify the price
You can probably thank Hollywood and American cultural influence for that. All those scenes in movies and TV shows of people grabbing coffee, sipping it on the go—it’s charming! Social media is also playing a huge role in this coffee revolution. But, for many Kenyans who’ve grown up on tea, coffee still feels too bitter, too intense.
It’s Not That We Hate Coffee… There Just Isn’t Enough
Another big reason Kenyans don’t drink more coffee is simply that there’s not enough to go around. If everyone in Kenya started sipping Kenyan coffee daily, there wouldn’t be enough left to export for the rest of you!
And let’s be real—exporting coffee is a big enterprise. In 2023, Kenya exported 522,920 tonnes of tea compared to just 47,861 tonnes of coffee. That’s a staggering difference! We export 11 times more tea than coffee, and even though tea is also consumed locally, coffee is barely touched by the majority.
But it’s not just about availability—it’s about cost too. Kenyan coffee is highly sought after internationally, which drives up its price.
For the average Kenyan, buying a bag of locally grown specialty coffee is a luxury many can’t afford. Even those who might want to try it are often outpriced, and what’s left on the shelves? More instant coffee, much of which isn’t even Kenyan.
The most common brands of coffee sold in supermarkets are often from South America or Asia, with Robusta blends dominating. So when you see a Kenyan with a sachet of instant Nescafé Classic, don’t be surprised—it’s affordable, convenient, and what most of us are used to.
A Changing Coffee Culture?
While tea still reigns supreme, there’s no denying that Kenya’s coffee culture is slowly evolving. Specialty coffee shops are popping up in big cities, catering to the curious and the connoisseurs alike. The younger generation, more exposed to global trends through social media and movies, is leading this shift. But for now, Kenya remains a tea-drinking nation at its core.
So, if you’re abroad sipping on some fine Kenyan coffee, know that most of us back home haven’t had the chance to taste it. But hey, that just means there’s more for the rest of you!
In conclusion, we Kenyans don’t dislike coffee—we just don’t drink much of it. It’s just a series of factors; historical, cultural, or economic reasons, tea remains the beverage of choice for most of the population. And with tea being the country’s largest export, it’s clear that we’re sticking to what we know best—at least for now.
Also Read: What is So Special About Kenyan Coffee?
