M-Cultivo x AFCA: Unlocking Africa’s Coffee Potential

[London, United Kingdom] – [29 July 2025] – M-Cultivo, specialty coffee’s luxury auction house, and the African Fine Coffees Association (AFCA), the premier organization representing the African specialty coffee industry, today announced a groundbreaking strategic partnership. Made possible through the support of the International Trade Centre’s (ITC) U-EAC MARKUP II Programme, this collaboration aims to promote quality and diversity of African coffees through the “Taste of Harvest” auction series—highlighting up to five of AFCA’s 11 member countries in a series of curated auctions from November 2025 through 2026.

The "Taste of Harvest" series will provide a transparent and efficient platform for international buyers to discover and bid on some of Africa's finest coffees, directly supporting coffee farmers and fostering sustainable practices across the continent. This initiative underscores both organizations' commitment to enhancing market access, building capacity, and ensuring fair value for African coffee producers.

"We are thrilled to partner with AFCA on this initiative," said David Paparelli, CEO of M-Cultivo. "The 'Taste of Harvest' auctions represent a significant step forward in connecting the incredible efforts of African coffee farmers with discerning buyers worldwide. Our market and technology expertise, combined with AFCA's deep regional focus, will ensure a seamless and impactful experience for all participants.“At AFCA, we are committed to unlocking new market opportunities for African coffee producers,” said Gilbert Gatali, Executive Director of the African Fine Coffees Association. “Through this partnership with M-Cultivo, we’re elevating the Taste of Harvest to a global stage—combining trusted quality competitions with innovative auction technology to ensure more visibility, value, and direct access for our members.”

The "Taste of Harvest" auction series will feature coffees from up to five African countries, showcasing their distinct profiles and the dedication of their growers. Confirmed competition dates for the 2025-2026 harvest season include: 

• Burundi (Arabica): August 2025

• Uganda (Robusta): August 2025

• Tanzania (Arabica/Robusta): November 2025

• Kenya (Arabica): January 2026

• Uganda (Arabica): January 2026

For other competition dates and announcements, be sure to check the full Taste of Harvest schedule online or follow us on social media for the latest updates.

Further details regarding registration for buyers and specific auction lots will be announced on the official websites of M-Cultivo and AFCA.

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About M-Cultivo:

Founded to create opportunities for specialty coffee producers to grow their businesses, M-Cultivo takes a technology-based approach to connecting producers to the right buyers. M-Cultivo supports producers through online auctions, offer sheets, financing, and quality management solutions.

About the African Fine Coffees Association (AFCA):

Founded in July 2000, the African Fine Coffees Association (AFCA) is a member-based, non-profit association that represents producers, traders, government, and other support organizations. AFCA is currently made up of 11 member countries, and is headquartered in Kampala, Uganda, with representative staff in other member countries.

Contact:

David Paparelli, david@mcultivo.com