Côte d’Ivoire's Coffee Boom: Growing Demand & Specialty Scene

Key takeaways Côte d’Ivoire’s GDP averaged 7% growth between 2012 and 2023, boosting demand for higher-quality coffee. The number of specialty coffee shops and roasters is increasing in Abidjan, the country’s largest city. Fine robusta investment is reshaping Côte d’Ivoire’s coffee potential. Vertically-integrated businesses are helping retain domestic coffee value. Côte d’Ivoire has long been a major global coffee producer, yet domestic coffee consumption has historically lagged far behind. While the country exported 650,000 60kg bags of coffee in 2024, according to USDA figures, its domestic market has remained largely disconnected from the quality potential of the beans it grows. But this dynamic is beginning to change. As economic growth increases purchasing power, interest in specialty coffee is rising in Abidjan. The country’s economy grew at an average annual rate of 7% between 2012 and 2023, with estimates for 2024 and 2025 at around 6.5%, according to the IMF. This has the potential to transform how Ivorians think about and experience coffee. However, most crucially, it presents the opportunity to retain more value in Côte d’Ivoire’s coffee sector. Hadi Beydoun of Café Continent explains more. You may also like our guide to the coffee sector in Côte d’Ivoire. Coffee’s significance in Côte d’Ivoire Coffee has long played a vital role in Côte d’Ivoire’s national economy, supported by extensive farms across fertile agricultural regions. In fact, during the 1970s, the country was the world’s third-largest coffee producer after Brazil and Colombia. But today, USDA data rank Côte d’Ivoire among the world’s top 20 coffee producers, with robusta accounting for the vast majority of output. Two civil wars and decades of political instability have significantly undermined the country’s ability to sustain and scale its coffee sector, including investment in infrastructure and quality control practices. Despite this legacy of coffee production, domestic consumption has traditionally been limited to low-cost formats. For decades, coffee drinking in Côte d’Ivoire has centred on instant sachets and café noir sold at roadside kiosks – products prioritising affordability and convenience over quality and flavour. As a result, specialty coffee has remained out of reach for many Ivorians, and market growth has been slow. However, this narrative is now shifting. Industry stakeholders increasingly view Côte d’Ivoire not only as a major West African coffee origin but also as an emerging consumer market with untapped potential for higher-quality coffee. “Coffee consumption is slowly moving from instant Nescafé coffee to the Nespresso capsules,” says Hadi, the founder and general manager of Café Continent, the first specialty coffee company in Côte d’Ivoire that sources locally-grown coffee. “Consumer buying power has been increasing, and Ivorians are more and more exposed to new products and international influence.” Specialty coffee culture is blossoming Economic growth in Abidjan is creating space for more premium coffee experiences. Between 2012 and 2024, GDP grew by an average of 6 to 7% per year, placing the country above the sub-Saharan African average, according to the Institute for International and Strategic Relations. A small but growing number of cafés and roasters are challenging the dominance of instant coffee by introducing new formats, brewing methods, and quality standards. “We are the first to promote specialty coffee culture here in the Ivory Coast, not only with our roastery but with our coffee shops that showcase quality, traceability, and hospitality excellence,” says Hadi. “We also supply coffee to the country’s HoReCa sector, pushing the standards of great coffee much higher, and are in partnership with the OIAC (International Organisation of Coffee Arts), a globally recognised institution. “As an official certifier, we operate a training school to award certified, internationally recognised diplomas,” he adds. “This initiative raises the level of professionalism for HoReCa businesses, while ensuring superior quality standards across the entire supply chain.” Beyond its consumer-facing cafés, Café Continent operates in private-label production and franchising, helping establish infrastructure for specialty coffee’s expansion in Côte d’Ivoire. As specialty coffee gains visibility, consumer education has become a critical component of market development. Coffee shops and roasters are increasingly introducing Ivorians to concepts such as origin differentiation, processing methods, and third wave brewing techniques. However, local taste preferences remain clearly defined. “People enjoy different types and kinds of coffees; however, less popular are very light roasts with accentuated acidity,” Hadi observes. “People usually go for the typical espresso roast.” For specialty coffee business operators, this means that adapting global quality standards to local palates is essential to building sustained demand. Why value retention in Côte d’Ivoire’s coffee sector is crucial As Côte d’Ivoire’s specialty coffee sector continues to develop, value retention has emerged as a central strategic challenge. Historically, many producing countries have exported green beans only to re-import roasted coffee and other finished products at significantly higher prices. Industry players increasingly see vertical integration as key to reversing this trend. Café Continent has adopted this approach by operating across the entire supply chain. “We believe that controlling all the steps in the value chain is crucial in an environment where coffee has never been treated as a quality product,” Hadi explains. “Not only by applying different processing methods, but also by roasting and packaging coffee in different ways.” This model has direct economic implications at a local level. Since its launch, Café Continent has created more than 40 jobs, including positions for villagers who collect coffee cherries on its farms. “Our robusta processing station will create over 15 new jobs in the near future,” Hadi adds. A core focus of the brand’s strategy is investment in robusta quality – a coffee species historically associated with lower value. “We try to break that predisposition by pushing the limits of Ivorian robusta,” Hadi tells me. Today, there is renewed global interest in fine robusta, especially as arabica prices remain relatively high. Offering twice the caffeine of arabica, a more earthy, bold flavour profile, and greater resistance to pests and disease, robusta is attracting investment from producers and roasters alike. Europe alone imported 60,000 tonnes of green robusta in 2024, and this level is expected to increase as weather conditions in Vietnam (the world’s largest robusta producer) improve for the 2025/26 harvest. Supporting the push to increase production As the Ivorian government invests in quadrupling its annual coffee output, the country could regain international market share, as global robusta exports are projected to rise in 2026 and beyond. To meet this growing demand and help drive quality, Café Continent has opened a new robusta processing facility in the western mountains of Côte d’Ivoire at an altitude of 800 metres above sea level. The site currently uses natural processing and plans to diversify its techniques. “Soon, we will try different methods, such as honey and washed,” Hadi explains. “We’re hoping to see the final results by 2027.” By applying processing and roasting practices typically reserved for arabica, the initiative aims to challenge long-standing perceptions of robusta’s quality ceiling. The company also supports traceability and education across the supply chain. “We also organise events and education programmes for all supply chain actors and industry players willing to learn and participate actively in the country’s coffee sector,” Hadi notes. The emergence of specialty coffee culture in Côte d’Ivoire reflects a broader rethinking of how producing countries engage with their own crops. Rather than exporting value, businesses are increasingly seeking to build domestic consumption markets that support jobs, skills development, and long-term sustainability. As the country’s specialty coffee shops and roasters demonstrate the commercial and cultural viability of vertically integrated, quality-led models, Côte d’Ivoire’s role in the global coffee industry will continue to evolve. Enjoyed this? Then read our article on Touba coffee. Photo credits: Café Continent Perfect Daily Grind Please note: Café Continent is a sponsor of Perfect Daily Grind.