Bright berry sweetness from Zambia. Earthy chocolate richness of Uganda. The vibrant diversity of African green coffee is celebrated worldwide, and we are proud of our involvement in every incredible sip. Our extensive sourcing network reaches smallholder farmers in Congo, Ivory Coast and Uganda, as well as estates in Tanzania and Zambia. Managed by our teams of expert agronomists and sustainability professionals, these farms can supply specialty customers internationally with sustainably grown, traceable coffees.
Both arabica and robusta are traditional export crops here. Now specialty production is bringing new investment, interest and hope to the main growing region, the Kivu provinces. As the country’s largest coffee buyer and exporter, ofi offers high-quality fully washed coffee and organic cascara, produced at our seven washing stations. Our deep focus on quality means farmers are rewarded with higher premiums for their efforts, which supports their livelihoods.
When it comes to full-bodied robusta, Ivory Coast is an important producer thanks to its climate and altitude. And ofi has grown to become the country’s largest green coffee buyer and 4C certified exporter, benefiting the livelihoods of around 90,000 smallholders each year. Our state-of-the-art dry mill in the capital, Abidjan, is equipped with modern machinery that produces superior quality beans and customized grades for buyers, resulting in more opportunities and enhanced brand reputations.
A 2,000-hectare green arabica coffee estate in the mountainous Songea Rural District of Southern Tanzania empowers the local community, thanks to its employment opportunities. Certified by Rainforest Alliance/UTZ and 4C, the estate has many local people as workers. And we are proud to be the first business in Africa to have a site achieve the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Standard. This means it conforms to the AWS International Water Stewardship Standard, which recognizes global best practice in collaborative water management.
Considered the birthplace of robusta, Uganda is home to what is thought to be one of the rarest examples of naturally occurring coffee trees anywhere in the world. Over a third of the country’s population depend on coffee to make a living, making it a product of vital economic and social significance. Our Sironko processing mill produces specialty grade, fully washed arabicas, sourced from the farmers spread across the high slopes of Mt Elgon.
The Rainforest Alliance/UTZ certified arabica estates are in the stunning Mafinga Hills of Zambia’s Northern Province, favored for its microclimate, rich volcanic soil and rainfall. As well as improving production facilities and processes with an emphasis on quality, we’re investing in the communities beyond the estates to improve access to education and healthcare, and support smallholder farmers.
Our promise
Our goal at ofi is simple: to make a real, lasting positive difference in the lives of coffee farmers and to protect the environment in coffee-growing communities around the world. To do this, we have four main focuses.
Sustainability
We care about working responsibly within the coffee industry. Coffee LENS (Livelihoods, Empowerment and Nature at Scale) drives our sustainable coffee sourcing vision. It sets out the ambitious goals we aim to tackle by 2030 with the help of our partners. So we can help farmers, communities, the climate and the living world. And we’re happy to share that we’ve achieved a number of 2021 milestones, as published in our first impact report. Please have a read to get an idea of what can be done.
Operating in 18 coffee-growing regions across Africa, Asia and Central and South America, we’re deeply committed to supporting local communities and ensuring a sustainable future for coffee. Our hands-on approach and long-term initiatives have made us leaders in ethical sourcing. The result? Exceptional quality coffee.
Wherever you are in the world, we’re fluent in coffee. And our innovation and expertise is ready to go when you are.
