Goal: Create jobs while boosting local coffee consumption in Kenya.
1. Direct Coffee Industry Jobs
| Role | Employers | Impact on Local Coffee Demand |
|---|---|---|
| Specialty Baristas | Coffee Houses e.g. Westrock Coffee Houses, Wonder254, Café Java, Artcaffe, Dormans etc | Serve 100% Kenyan coffee, educating customers on local flavors. |
| Coffee Roasters | 4A Coffee Roasters / Roaster Fabricators, KCS Coffee Roasters, Savannah, Kenya Coffee Company etc | Promote single-origin Kenyan beans in roastery sales. |
| Green Coffee Buyers / Digitalisation | NKCC, Cooperative Societies, Local Roasters | Source directly from smallholder farmers, improving traceability mapping. |
| Quality Control (QC) | Knowledge of Coffee Skills (KCS) , Coffee Research Institute, Exporters | Ensure high standards for domestic market consumption. |
Estimated Jobs: 1,200/year (Thika, Nairobi, Nakuru, Mombasa, Eldoret hubs).
2. Entrepreneurship Paths
| Business Model | Startup Support | Local Consumption Boost |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Coffee Bikes | County Govt/NGOs. licenses (10K KSH fee waiver) | Sell affordable espresso (50 KSH) in low-income areas. |
| Kibanda Espresso | KUZA microloans for 50K KSH kiosks | Offer “Kenya Coffee Fridays” with free tastings. |
| Office Coffee Carts | Partner with Copia, Twiga for deliveries | Supply tech hubs with Kenyan-branded coffee. |
| Coffee Vending Machines | Lease-to-own deals with Lavazza Coffee Center (Kenya) | Stock 100% Kenyan instant coffee blends. |
Estimated Startups: 800/year (30% scaling to 2+ employees).
3. Agri-Tech & Sustainability Roles
| Job | Employers | Local Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Soil Technicians | Kenya Coffee school,SNV, AgriCord projects | Teach farmers climate-smart practices for better yields. |
| Solar Dryer Installers | USAID Kenya, KickStart International | Reduce post-harvest losses, improving local bean quality. |
| Coffee Waste Recyclers | Eco-Tech Energy (biogas/briquettes/Beauty Products e.g. face scrubbers) | Turn husks into fuel, cutting production costs. |
Estimated Jobs: 500/year (Rural focus: Murang’a, Meru).
4. Tourism & Creative Economy
| Role | Opportunities | Marketing Hook |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee Tour Guides | Nairobi Coffee Exchange, Karatina Farms | “Bean-to-Cup” experiences for tourists. |
| Coffee Content Creators | YouTube/TikTok (brand deals with Kenya Coffee School) | Viral challenges like #KenyanCoffeeDance. |
| Barista Trainers | County Youth Hubs | Train next-gen baristas in Swahili. |
Estimated Jobs: 300/year (Digital + in-person).
5. Policy & Advocacy
| Role | Institutions | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee Consumption Officers | County Ministries of Trade | Push for “Drink Kenyan Coffee” campaigns in schools. |
| Cooperative Youth Reps | Coffee Cooperatives (Gikanda, Rumukia) | Lobby for youth inclusion in farming profits. |
Estimated Jobs: 200/year (Government/NGO-funded).
