What It Means for the Future of Specialty Coffee

March 19, 2025 | ZimKaffee

Big news in the coffee world! Slow has acquired African Coffee Roasters (ACR) in a move that could reshape how coffee is sourced, roasted, and distributed globally. This isn’t just about growth—it’s about shifting the coffee industry toward greater sustainability, transparency, and value retention at origin.

Why This Matters for Coffee Lovers & Cafés

At ZimKaffee, we are passionate about African specialty coffee, and this acquisition signals a major step toward a fairer and more sustainable coffee supply chain. Instead of exporting green beans for roasting overseas, ACR has championed roasting at origin, ensuring that more economic value stays in coffee-producing countries. Now, with Slow’s support, this model is set to expand even further.

For cafés and consumers, this means:

• More high-quality, sustainably roasted African coffee
• Stronger support for coffee farmers and local economies
• Greater traceability and transparency in the supply chain
• A push for carbon-negative coffee production at scale

What This Means for ZimKaffee

As a café and wine bar dedicated to showcasing the best of African coffee and wine, we’re always excited about innovations that bring more value to the origin and enhance the coffee experience. With Slow expanding its roasting footprint in Kenya, this could mean new opportunities for sourcing freshly roasted, high-quality African coffee with an even stronger sustainability story.

We’ll be keeping a close eye on how this unfolds and exploring how ZimKaffee can continue to offer the best and most impactful African coffee experiences.

The Future of Coffee is Changing

The traditional coffee supply chain—where green beans are shipped thousands of kilometers for roasting—has long been overdue for disruption. This acquisition is a clear sign that the industry is moving toward a better, more equitable future.

Stay tuned as we continue to bring you the best of African coffee and explore what this exciting development could mean for the future of specialty coffee at ZimKaffee!

☕ What do you think? Stop by on Tuesdays and speak with our founder.