Ethiopia launches SCAE to boost specialty coffee exports
“Best of Ethiopia” auctions will showcase rare lots as new association targets US$3 billion annual specialty coffee revenue.
ETHIOPIA – Ethiopia has formally inaugurated the Specialty Coffee Association of Ethiopia (SCAE), a new industry-led organisation created to accelerate growth in the country’s premium coffee segment and forge stronger links between local producers and global roasters.
Recognised worldwide as the origin of Arabica coffee, Ethiopia boasts unparalleled genetic diversity, with experts estimating over 10,000 distinct varieties growing across its highland forests and smallholder farms. Despite this richness, many exceptional coffees remain under-priced and under-promoted on the international specialty market.
SCAE, governed by four seasoned Ethiopian coffee leaders, seeks to close that gap through enhanced quality protocols, expanded market access, heritage protection, and systematic variety cataloguing. The association will function as a central platform for research, training, advocacy, and business development.
Ashenafi Argaw, SCAE President, described the vision as “showcasing the finest Ethiopian coffees while building robust traceability and quality systems that reward farmers fairly and earn global respect.”
A flagship initiative, the “Best of Ethiopia” programme, will stage annual competitions and transparent auctions inspired by Panama’s acclaimed “Best of Panama” model. Top-scoring micro-lots are expected to attract record bids, channelling higher premiums directly back to producing communities.
Board member Faysel Abdosh stressed that SCAE exists “to redefine standards, safeguard biodiversity, and ensure Ethiopian specialty coffees finally receive the prestige and economic value they deserve.”
Beyond auctions, the association will roll out extensive farmer-training schemes covering processing techniques, cupping skills, sustainable practices, and climate-resilient farming methods to protect both livelihoods and fragile ecosystems.
Coffee continues to anchor Ethiopia’s economy as Africa’s top producer. In the 2024/25 crop year, exports generated US$2.7 billion, with total production hitting 1.2 million tons and 467,000 tons shipped overseas. The sector supports more than 20 million people, primarily smallholder families.
Looking ahead, the government and industry aim to double national coffee export earnings to US$10 billion annually within the coming years, with the specialty segment targeted to contribute at least US$3 billion of that total.
By uniting stakeholders under one professional body, SCAE positions Ethiopia to capture a larger share of the fast-growing global specialty coffee market while preserving the genetic treasure that makes its coffees unique.
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