Street coffee culture is flourishing business in Tanzania
In certain locations in the suburbs of Dar es Salaam, the commercial capital of Tanzania, one is likely to see people drinking coffee while seated in the shade of trees.
Dar es Salaam, the regional capital of the East African nation, is home to the largest number of coffee shops located beneath trees on the side of the road.
Abel Richard Chideba was drinking coffee under a tree at Biafra, a neighbourhood in the business capital’s Kinondoni district, when he stated, “When we are off-duty, we meet at these coffee shops to pass the time.”
Chideba, a driver-turned-videographer, told Xinhua in an interview that drivers, carpenters, and tailors meet in street coffee shops to discuss a wide range of topics, including politics, economics, and sports.
“In addition to being a form of entertainment, coffee drinking brings people from all walks of life together. We meet in these coffee shops to discuss various matters of national significance “As he drank his second small cup of coffee, Chideba remarked, “I’ve had enough of this.”
According to him, coffee drinkers, primarily drivers, are currently discussing the conflict in Russia and Ukraine, which has caused fuel prices to skyrocket.
“The rising cost of fuel is putting the majority of us out of work because people are no longer hiring our vehicles to transport their goods, as we have also increased our transportation rates,” said Chideba.
He stated that Arabica and Robusta, which are readily available, are the most popular types of coffee, and that ginger is sometimes added to enhance the flavour.
“Coconut peanut brittle is a favourite snack among coffee drinkers,” said Chideba, adding that one can consume up to ten small cups of coffee per day, but only at intervals.
Sultan Saleh Mtima, 47, who is also a driver, stated that drinking coffee on the street helps some drinkers cope with the stress caused by the rising cost of living.
“You can get into a fight with your wife at home, but after drinking two cups of coffee here, you feel refreshed,” Mtima said.
Erick Richard, a 20-year-old street coffee vendor, told Xinhua that he began selling coffee on the streets three years ago after his friends from Dodoma region told him that street coffee selling was a lucrative business in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s commercial capital.
Richard stated that he receives 15,000 Tanzanian shillings (approximately 6.5 U.S. dollars) for selling one kettle of 10 litres of coffee, and on a good day he can sell up to three kettles.
