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An entrepreneur, Sangai Brisbane, has announced plans to establish Liberia’s first Barista Association, a move aimed at strengthening local coffee culture and positioning the country competitively on the global coffee market.
Speaking to our reporter, Mrs. Brisbane said the initiative seeks to bring together coffee enthusiasts, including roasters, farmers, and business owners, to develop skills, share knowledge, and highlight ongoing efforts to revitalize Liberia’s coffee sub-sector.
According to her, the proposed association will focus on training baristas, improving coffee quality, and encouraging Liberians to embrace locally produced coffee.
“We do have a lot of coffee shops in hotels and restaurants that have baristas, and so we are trying to establish a national association across the country to champion the consumption of coffee locally,” she said.
While acknowledging that more work is needed to boost coffee production and improve processing, Brisbane believes the Barista Association will play a key role in supporting farmers by creating stronger local market access and improving incomes.
She praised the Government of Liberia for launching coffee, especially Liberica coffee, an indigenous variety, as a flagship program under the Food and Agriculture Organization’s One Country One Priority Product initiative. The sector is also receiving substantial support from the European Union, along with partners like the International Trade Centre and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture.
However, Brisbane emphasized that sustainability remains a major concern.
“The main problem we have is sustainability. Even if the projects end, we must ensure we do not remain dependent on donor partners,” she said.
As part of her efforts to promote Liberia’s coffee internationally, Brisbane recently participated—under the auspices of the International Trade Centre—in the Africa’s Fine Coffees Conference and Exhibition held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where she showcased Liberia’s specialty coffee.
She noted that establishing a Barista Association would enable Liberia to compete in continental coffee competitions.
“Winners from our national barista competitions will go on to compete in the Africa Fine Coffees Championship. This will help open markets and develop the sector,” she said.
Brisbane also highlighted plans to establish a Roasters Association to strengthen coffee processing and marketing.
“We are also going to establish a roasters association to train people on proper coffee processing. Currently, we have very few roasters—only two entrepreneurs. We need to train more people, especially young people, to attract them to the coffee sector,” she added.
Despite growing demand for coffee in Liberia, Brisbane pointed out that imported coffee still dominates the local market, creating challenges for domestic entrepreneurs.
In response, she has established her own coffee shop in the Sinkor Old Road community to promote local consumption.
“More people are developing an interest in drinking the coffee I brew at my shop, and I am working to improve sales,” she said.
She further called for standardized pricing and improved regulatory awareness, urging the Liberia Agricultural Commodity Regulatory Authority to take a more active role.
“There must be standards that address not only pricing but also coffee processing,” she stressed.
With increased international support and stronger government policies, Brisbane believes Liberia is well-positioned to successfully establish a Barista Association, promote a vibrant coffee culture, and reclaim its place in the global coffee market.
