Trendy coffee at US$4 a cup revives long-neglected African industry

London

JULIEN Ochala can't live without his morning cup of Joe.

But not just any coffee will do. For the past five years, the 37-year-old physiology lecturer at King's College London has visited the same store every week to grab a pack of his beloved Kenyan brew. And he's not put off by the cost: at 37 pounds (S$67) a kilogramme, it's more than double a similar supermarket product.

"I take Kenyan coffee every morning," said Mr Ochala, who buys his beans from Monmouth Coffee Company in Borough Market. "I love it because of the relatively higher acidity level. It keeps me active in the afternoons." Customers willing to pay a premium for African brews, known for their floral, fruity flavours, are driving purcha…