Table of contents
Cameroon
$ 0.75 - $1.71 per ounce
| Varieties | Arabica, Robusta, Boyo |
| How to Serve | Mostly served as a Cappuccino or a Latte in a smaller cup than usual. |
| Flavor | Mild acidity with a full-bodied flavor and an aftertaste resembling chocolate |
| Recommended Machine | Pourover, Stovetop, Moka Pot |
| Good As | Americano, Espresso, Doppio |
| Price Range | $0.75 – $1.71 per ounce |
| Caffeine Level | 0.5% on average |
Cameroon coffee has gained wide popularity among the world’s coffee lovers relatively recently.
Despite the fact that the history of Cameroon coffee is only 100 years old, today few sophisticated gourmets have tasted the delicious Cameroonian Arabica or luxurious Robusta. Or, go for their specialty-grade Boyo coffee beans that are only grown in Cameroon. Coffee in this small African country is the “bread” of the local people and the main agricultural export.
The main pride of the country is undoubtedly the excellent Arabica, which is cultivated in the highlands in the west and northwest of Cameroon.
The main centers of Arabica plantations are the Adamawa plateau and the slopes of the Cameroon volcano, which provide excellent Cameroonian coffee. According to the official classification, Cameroon Arabica is divided into several types depending on the size of the grains. On the world market, Arabica from Cameroon is valued quite highly, and many experts find it unique and inimitable.
In this guide, we will more closely talk about the production of Cameroon coffee beans as well as some nice products you can get online.
Today coffee in Cameroon is produced in three regions: Abang Mbang, Bamileke, and Bamaoun. Arabica is grown on the high plateaus of Bamileke and Bamaoun, while Abang Mbang focuses on Robusta. About 10% of the production is sold on the domestic market, and the rest are exported. Let’s talk about these regions in more detail down below.
When we talk about the best coffee-producing regions in Cameroon, Bamileke certainly comes to mind. The tribes living in Bamileke are known for their unique culture and approach to coffee making. This region has a rich tropical climate and elevations of around 3000 feet above sea level. This creates ideal conditions for growing Arabica beans, which the locals are indeed doing.
Bamaoun is a high plateau region where arabica plantations are located. This is another popular and prolific place for coffee plantations. So much so that a large part of the economy relies heavily on coffee production.
Abang Mbang is the capital of Robusta beans in Cameroon. This is where the majority of the country’s coffee volume is produced and then exported to the West. This region is significantly dryer and lower in terms of altitude compared to the other two, which makes it a perfect place for growing Robusta.
It’s pretty hard to buy Cameroon coffee from local suppliers. Plus it would take much longer and would cost more. Luckily, we found some pretty good Cameroon coffee brands and Amazon and are featuring them in our list below. Buying on Amazon will help you avoid any unnecessary overhead when it comes to ordering these beans.
We pay attention to the following:
For more detailed information on how exactly we rate the coffee products we suggest in our guides, click here.
Below, you will find individual reviews of the brands we choice on Amazon. This way you will be able to set realistic expectations and much more educated decisions than just guessing.
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Price: $17.50 (subject to change) |
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Size: 16 oz |
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Type: Boyo |
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Roast: Medium |
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Producer: AromaRidge |
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Beans: Whole |
This is an amazing coffee bean that grows predominantly on alpine plantations and is recognized as one of the best in the entire African continent. The coffee is famous for low acidity, surprisingly bright fruity aroma and mild taste with hints of chocolate unusual for classic coffee.
The coffee will provide a special taste with hints of chocolate and vanilla. Such aroma and taste are not characteristic of classic Cameroon coffee. When I first decided to try this coffee I was astonished. Firstly, I was thinking that it was an ordinary traditional boyo coffee, but after drinking the first cup I immediately went for the second one. And then the third. There were flavors added inside!
This is soft, exquisite coffee with a floral aroma and a sweet taste. Cameroon Peaberry Boyo has pleasant fruit and berry aroma with a combination of slight sourness. Highly recommended for everyone who wishes to taste the best coffee from Cameroon.
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Price: $19.99 (subject to change) |
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Size: 16 oz |
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Type: Boyo |
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Roast: Medium |
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Producer: Volcanica |
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Beans: Whole |
I was so happy when I saw Volcanica in the list of products. This brand is slowly starting to become my absolute favorite. They always have amazing products no matter where they get them from. Plus, you always feel safe knowing that they have ethically sourced these beans from struggling farmers and paid the full price without going through any bureaucratic machinations.
Perhaps the only thing I don’t like about this coffee is that the sweetness is a bit too intense. It’s a medium roast similar to the first product, but for some reason, the natural flavors shine through much better with this one.
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Price: $98.95 (subject to change) |
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Size: 5 pounds |
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Type: Arabica |
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Roast: Medium |
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Producer: Volcanica |
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Beans: Ground |
This one I ordered to see the difference compared to the smaller package. The only real difference is the intensity of the flavor with this one. It’s not as sweet, but a bit more bitter, but it may be my fault as I may have used a bit more ground per cup.
All in all, the main differences are that the bitterness is a bit more intense, the size is much bigger, and the beans come pre-ground. The rest is pretty similar to the previous product.
Every coffee bean has its preferred methods of brewing it and Cameroon coffee is definitely no exception. These beans require a specific approach and amount of time spent. Below you will find the most recommended machines I personally used to brew Cameroon beans.
Espresso Machine is one of the best and foremost options for making Cameroon coffee at home. This is due to the pressure that this machine bulbs when brewing and the flavors it helps to concentrate.
To get a quality coffee, the temperature and speed of processing the powder with hot water or steam will be critical factors. Therefore, when familiarizing yourself with the operating modes of the device, it is best to conduct several experiments with different settings in order to determine the taste that is optimal for you.
A percolator is basically like a cheap alternative to an Espresso machine. It tries to replicate the same pressure and steam to brew a much more concentrated coffee. Unfortunately, it’s not the real deal, but it’s the closest you can get without breaking the bank.
The process is pretty simple. You just fill the lower part of the percolator with warm water, add the grounds in the middle filter, attach all of it back together and start heating.
After about a minute or so, you will have your finished cup of strong coffee.
Although Cameroon produces quite a lot of coffee for export, they’re not really keen on drinking it themselves. In order to promote the production of coffee, the government holds the annual Festicoffee coffee festival in the capital, which brings together coffee producers, resellers, and consumers.
Here is where different types of brews are tested each year to determine which one is the tastiest and most effective for Boyo beans.
The first and foremost I have to mention is, of course, the Espresso. Due to the low acidity and full-bodied flavor, Cameroon coffee beans really benefit from a high concentration of flavor without making it too intense.
If you want to truly feel the taste of these beans, then what I recommend is you employ the coffee connoisseur methods. The first one is to quickly sip the coffee from a teaspoon to coat all of your taste buds. The second is to drink room temperature water first and then immediately take a sip of the coffee. This also helps accentuate the flavor of the beans as well as shine through the sweet undertones better.
A Doppio is basically a double Espresso, which concentrates the flavor even further. This is a safe approach for Cameroon coffee beans, only because of their mild acidity and bitterness. I wouldn’t recommend doing it with the Robusta beans from Cameroon though, better go for Boyo beans on this one.
Just brew an Espresso like you normally would, and then brew another one. Pour them in one cup and boom, you’ve got your Doppio.
