Ugandan coffee companies have sold their own branded coffee directly to consumers in Switzerland, as the East African country tries to capture more value from a crop it largely exports as raw beans.

Gorilla Conservation Coffee and Carico Coffee exhibited at the Swiss Coffee Festival in Zurich, held from October 31 to November 1, marking Uganda's first appearance at the event.

The festival, described by organisers as Switzerland's largest coffee trade fair, drew about 5,500 visitors and 78 exhibitors, according to Uganda's embassy in Switzerland, which secured the stand for the two companies.

The firms offered tastings, met potential buyers and sold their products on site.

"We are delighted to introduce more of Uganda's exceptional coffee brands to Swiss consumers and look forward to building lasting partnerships with Swiss coffee traders, roasters and consumers," Uganda's Ambassador to Switzerland Marcel Tibaleka said.

Uganda is Africa's leading coffee exporter by volume. It shipped 8.8 million 60kg bags worth $2.4bn in the 12 months to March 2026, up from 6.9 million bags worth $1.8bn a year earlier, according to the country's agriculture ministry.

Europe is its biggest market, taking 58 percent of exports in February, with Italy the largest single buyer.

But more than 98 percent of Uganda's coffee leaves the country as unroasted green beans, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. The beans are then roasted, blended and branded abroad, where most of the product's retail value is earned.

Ugandan officials say this means consumers in markets such as China often drink Ugandan coffee without knowing its origin.

In June, the government launched a national coffee brand, "Uganda Coffee: It's in Our Nature", at the World of Coffee exhibition in Brussels.

The government is also encouraging investment in roasting, processing and soluble coffee, while keeping green bean exports going, and is targeting production of more than 20 million bags a year by 2030.

Officials say about 1.7 million Ugandan households depend on coffee for their livelihoods.

Gorilla Conservation Coffee is run by Conservation Through Public Health, a nonprofit founded by Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka. The company says it pays farmers near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park $0.50 per kilo above the market price.

Carico Coffee says it buys directly from about 1,700 smallholder farmers in the Mount Elgon region of eastern Uganda.

Switzerland has been a growing focus for Uganda's coffee promotion. In March, the embassy and the Swiss Coffee Traders Association organised a week-long tour of Uganda for young Swiss coffee traders.

The embassy said the Zurich festival would support its efforts to expand coffee exports and promote value addition.