Coffee Origin Trip · Trip Report

Uganda, May 2–10, 2026

A delegation of eight German coffee professionals — roasters, an importer, a trader, and an analyst — travelled to Uganda for nine days of farm visits, cuppings, and direct trade meetings. The trip was organised by the German Embassy Kampala and Uganda's Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), with logistical coordination by Zuricaf and the Uganda-side team.

The delegation visited research stations, primary processing facilities, cooperatives, and high-altitude farms across six growing regions, and held two structured cupping sessions. All eight participants completed the post-trip survey — read the highlights below.

Programme

Full Day-by-Day Programme

The detailed itinerary — stations visited, processing methods, and cupping notes by region — is available on request for delegation participants and prospective roasting partners. Leave your details and we'll send you straight to it.

Participant Survey

What the delegation took home

All eight participants completed the post-trip survey — a 100% response rate.

Six of eight rated most or all sessions as commercially actionable — a strong result for a mixed cohort of roasters, traders and analysts.
The structured cupping format was the standout — lots presented with variety, region, processing, altitude, certification and available volume, with a producer contact attached to every cup. Named by multiple participants as the benchmark for how an origin trip should present coffee.
High-altitude Arabica generated the strongest enthusiasm of the trip.
Seven of eight want more cupping sessions on the next delegation — the clearest demand signal from the survey, and the change already built into the 2027 programme.

Partners

Who's behind this trip

German Embassy Kampala

Co-organiser of the delegation, together with MAAIF — official diplomatic host on the ground in Uganda.

MAAIF

Uganda's Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries — co-organiser, ministerial programme, and host of the final cupping session at the UCDA lab, Lugogo.

CCPAU

Commercial Coffee Producers Association of Uganda — hosted the Day 2 cupping session, the format benchmark of the trip.

Zuricaf / Lorenz Stöckert

Logistical coordination on the Uganda side, trade facilitation, German import & customs coordination, key account management and quality assurance for the German roasters. Roasters purchase directly — Zuricaf never takes title to the goods.

Are you a Ugandan farmer or cooperative?

Submit your lot information now — commercial details from this trip's cupping samples are being collected on a rolling basis for delegation participants.