Govind Tekale
In western South Sudan, Catherine Bashiama carefully examines her coffee tree, searching for the first fruit buds since planting it three years ago. Finding small cherries, she smiles with pride. This mother of 12 had never grown coffee before but now hopes a rare climate-resistant variety will help lift her family out of poverty.
“I want to send my children to school so they can become the future generation,” Bashiama told reporters.
The coffee she’s growing is excelsa—a species discovered over a century ago in South Sudan that’s gaining international attention as climate change disrupts traditional coffee production worldwide. Major coffee-producing regions are struggling with increasingly erratic weather, pushing prices to their highest levels in decades.
Climate Challenges to Global Coffee Production
Brazil, the world’s largest coffee producer, is projected to see an approximately 12% decline in its harvest due to drought, according to expert estimates mentioned in the source. This decline will likely impact global coffee supplies and prices.
India faces similar challenges. Coffee productivity there has decreased from 947 kg/ha in 2000 to 814 kg/ha in 2023, with arabica varieties showing a particularly concerning decline. The United Planters’ Association of Southern India (UPASI) has expressed worry over falling productivity and rising costs driven by climate change. Coffee prices in Karnataka, India, have reached historic highs due to global supply shortages.
Excelsa’s Unique Characteristics
Aaron Davis, head of coffee research at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in London, explained the current predicament: “What history shows us is that sometimes the world doesn’t give you a choice, and right now, many coffee farmers are suffering from climate change.”
Native to South Sudan and a handful of other African countries including Congo, Central African Republic and Uganda, excelsa is also cultivated in India, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Its deep roots, thick leathery leaves, and large trunk enable it to thrive in extreme conditions where other coffee varieties fail. It’s also resistant to many common coffee pests and diseases.
Excelsa trees can reach 15 meters (about 49 feet) in height but may be pruned shorter for easier harvesting. The flavor profile is sweet with notes of chocolate, dark fruits, and hazelnut—similar to arabica but generally less bitter.
Despite these advantages, excelsa makes up less than 1% of the global market, far behind arabica and robusta, the two most widely consumed coffee species.
South Sudan’s Coffee Revival
Unlike neighboring Ethiopia or Uganda, oil-rich South Sudan has never been known as a coffee-producing nation. British colonizers grew robusta and arabica, but decades of conflict disrupted farming practices. Coffee trees require regular care and take at least three years to yield fruit.
Ian Paterson, managing director of Equatoria Teak, a sustainable agro-forestry company operating in South Sudan for over a decade, has been conducting trials on excelsa with promising results. The company gave seedlings and training to about 1,500 farmers, including Bashiama, to help them grow the coffee.
“There’s so little known about this coffee, that we feel at the forefront to trying to unravel it and we’re learning every day,” Paterson said.
Many trees started producing for the first time this year. Paterson hopes to export the first batch of approximately 7 tons to specialty shops in Europe. By 2027, the coffee could inject around $2 million into the economy, with major buyers expressing interest. However, production needs to triple for large buyers to invest.
Challenges Facing South Sudan’s Coffee Industry
Developing a coffee industry in South Sudan faces substantial hurdles. Poor infrastructure and insecurity make transportation difficult. One truck carrying 30 tons of coffee must travel about 1,800 miles (3,000 kilometers) to reach the port in Kenya for shipping. The cost for the first leg through Uganda is more than $7,500—up to five times the cost in neighboring countries.
Political instability also hampers progress. Despite a 2018 peace deal ending a five-year civil war, fighting continues in parts of the country. Tensions in Western Equatoria escalated after the president removed the governor in February 2025, angering supporters.
Alison Barnaba, the state’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Environment, warned businesses to avoid politics: “If I’m a businessman, dealing with my business, let me not mix with politics. Once you start mixing your business with politics, definitely you will end up in chaos.”
Barnaba mentioned plans to rehabilitate old coffee plantations and build an agriculture school, though details—including funding sources—remain unclear. South Sudan hasn’t paid its civil servants in over a year, and a rupture in a crucial oil pipeline through neighboring Sudan has severely reduced oil revenue.
Impact on Local Farmers
For local farmers, excelsa coffee represents hope for financial independence. Bashiama began growing coffee after her husband was injured and unable to help cultivate their traditional crops of maize and groundnuts. Since his accident, she’s struggled to pay for her children’s school fees or buy sufficient food.
Another farmer, 37-year-old Taban John, hopes to use his coffee earnings to buy a bicycle, making it easier to sell his other crops in town. He also wants to afford school uniforms for his children.
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However, farmers face additional challenges like wildfires. Elia Box lost half his coffee crop to fire in early February. While he plans to replace it, he was discouraged by the effort required and the lack of accountability.
“People aren’t thinking long-term like coffee crops, during war,” Box said. “Coffee needs peace.”
Global Research Initiatives
Research organizations are working to address coffee’s climate vulnerability. World Coffee Research has made progress developing climate-resilient coffee varieties. Cornell University has launched initiatives focused on improving climate resilience and productivity among smallholder coffee farmers.
For excelsa to help fill the market gap created by climate change, experts say it must prove practical on a larger scale. Until then, it remains a small but promising option in the search for sustainable coffee production.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Coffee Crisis
Excelsa coffee is a rare, climate-resistant coffee species native to South Sudan and several other African countries. It’s gaining attention because of its ability to withstand extreme weather conditions like drought and heat that are increasingly affecting traditional coffee varieties. With deep roots, thick leathery leaves, and resistance to common coffee pests and diseases, excelsa could potentially help address supply issues in the global coffee industry as climate change intensifies. Though it currently makes up less than 1% of the global coffee market, its unique qualities are drawing increased interest.
Climate change is causing significant disruptions to coffee production worldwide. Brazil, the world’s largest coffee producer, is projected to see an approximately 12% decline in its harvest due to drought, according to expert estimates. India has experienced a decrease in coffee productivity from 947 kg/ha in 2000 to 814 kg/ha in 2023. These challenges have led to soaring coffee prices globally, reaching their highest levels in decades. Erratic weather patterns, including drought and extreme heat, are making traditional coffee growing increasingly difficult in many regions.
Excelsa coffee has a sweet flavor profile with notes of chocolate, dark fruits, and hazelnut. It’s more similar to arabica but generally less bitter and may have less body. Unlike robusta, which can be quite bitter, excelsa offers a more balanced flavor that appeals to specialty coffee consumers while maintaining the hardiness needed for challenging growing conditions.
South Sudan faces numerous challenges in developing its coffee industry, including poor infrastructure, political instability, and ongoing conflict. Transportation is extremely costly—moving 30 tons of coffee to Kenya’s port costs over $7,500 for just the first leg through Uganda, up to five times the cost in neighboring countries. The country also struggles with wildfires that destroy crops and political tensions that discourage long-term agricultural investments. Additionally, South Sudan’s economic struggles, including unpaid civil servant salaries and reduced oil revenue, make it difficult to fund agricultural development initiatives.
For local South Sudanese farmers, excelsa coffee represents hope for financial independence and poverty reduction. Farmers like Catherine Bashiama hope to earn enough from coffee to pay for their children’s education and improve their families’ quality of life. Another farmer, Taban John, aims to purchase a bicycle to help sell his other crops and buy school uniforms for his children. The potential economic impact is significant—by 2027, excelsa coffee could inject approximately $2 million into South Sudan’s economy, according to estimates from Equatoria Teak, a company working with local farmers. Production would need to triple for large buyers to make significant investments.
Several research initiatives are focused on developing climate-resilient coffee varieties. World Coffee Research has made progress in creating coffee varieties that can withstand changing climate conditions. Cornell University has launched initiatives to improve climate resilience and productivity among smallholder coffee farmers. These research efforts, along with on-the-ground trials like those conducted by Equatoria Teak in South Sudan, are critical for ensuring the future sustainability of coffee production as climate change intensifies.
