Coffee or Nescafe??

by Archie
(Scotland)

Ok - I have this question about coffee. Perhaps some of the others could help me?

KAHAWA - The word kahawa has an Arabic etymology, and means coffee in Swahili.

For a country that grows, exports and epitomises its own coffee (Kenya is one of the best coffee producers worldwide) why is it so hard to get a cup of coffee that is not coming out of a Nescafe paper sachet on the edge of my saucer with hot water provided. In the best of hotels, restaurants and various other locations in Kenya it seems to be the norm. Why is that? Is the idea of ‘fresh coffee’ ingrained in the Kenya catering industry that it is fresh out of the ‘sachet’?

Perhaps some of the prime-movers of the Kenya coffee industry who know extremely well what I am talking about should start equipping their outlets with percolators or coffee machines to meet the needs of the expectant. If I was in marketing for ‘Starbucks’ or some other fresh coffee retailer I would be rubbing my hands with glee at the prospect of setting up business in Kenya, whether it was instant fresh coffee machines or viable locations for the people in the cities of Kenya to enjoy a fresh cup of the best.

This is not something to take away from Kenya - it is a thought to enhance its promotion in the world and secure its future as a place to attract tourists. In other words, when I step into a downtown city restaurant or hotel, up country cafe, beach at Mombasa I would hope that somebody would give me a ‘fresh cup of coffee’.

I hope your responses will be kind to me.... hahaha

Regards,
Archie