KAHAWA ROOTS (UK) LTD

Delivering ethical, traceable Kenyan coffee direct from farm to roaster — with every kilo planting a treekahawa

 

Founder(s) name: Cetric Mululu, Rupal Karar

Industry Sector: Wholesale of coffee, tea, cocoa, and spices. 

Kahawa Roots (UK) Ltd is a sustainable coffee enterprise dedicated to transforming how coffee is sourced, traded, and experienced. Founded by two University of Birmingham graduates, the company bridges the gap between smallholder farmers in Kenya and roasters in the United Kingdom through a direct, transparent, and ethical supply chain. 

At the heart of our operation is our partnership with Chwele Kahawa Roots Farm Ltd in Mount Elgon, Western Kenya — a region known for its rich volcanic soil, high altitude, and ideal conditions for growing premium Arabica coffee. Unlike traditional supply chains that rely heavily on intermediaries, auctions, and opaque pricing, we operate on a farm-to-roaster model, ensuring that every kilogram of coffee we export is fully traceable to the farmer who grew it. 

Our Story

Our vision is to empower Kenyan farmers by giving them fair compensation, recognition for their craft, and access to international markets. Each batch of coffee we export is processed, milled, and graded at our own facility in Kenya, maintaining strict quality standards from harvest to export. We combine traditional farming expertise with modern traceability and data management, ensuring that roasters can access transparent information about the origin, quality, and environmental impact of every batch. 

Kahawa Roots stands out through its proprietary “Seed to Shade” traceability system, which digitally tracks the journey of coffee from the seedling stage through processing, hulling, and export. The system provides roasters with detailed batch data — including farmer identity, harvest date, altitude, moisture levels, and cupping scores and more— creating trust and accountability throughout the supply chain. This traceability also supports our sustainability commitment by monitoring carbon impact, water use, and biodiversity on the farm. 

Our business model is simple yet impactful. We source, process, and sell green coffee beans directly to roasters and coffee houses in the UK, offering flexible packaging sizes for both micro and large-scale roasters. Through our e-commerce platform, roasters will be able to purchase coffee directly online, access live traceability reports, and even tip farmers directly — making transparency and ethical sourcing as easy as online shopping. 

Beyond commerce, Kahawa Roots is a social enterprise rooted in purpose. We are addressing the long-standing inequities in coffee trading by ensuring farmers receive fair value and recognition. We are also investing in environmental regeneration through our “Tree-for-Purchase” initiative — planting a tree in Kenya for every bag of coffee sold. This project not only offsets carbon emissions but also improves soil health, water retention, and biodiversity on our farm and among our partner cooperatives. 

Our operations are guided by three core principles — transparency, sustainability, and innovation. Transparency ensures that every transaction is traceable and fair. Sustainability drives our environmental and social initiatives, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 8, 12, and 13). Innovation fuels our data-driven systems and the integration of agri-tech in our farming and traceability operations. 

Next Phase

As of 2025, Kahawa Roots is fully registered in the UK, with its Kenyan counterpart operating at full capacity. We are currently building partnerships with UK-based roasters and exploring collaborations with universities and technology partners to enhance our traceability platform and support research into sustainable coffee production. 

In the coming year, our focus is on scaling production and expanding our e-commerce operations. With the growing global demand for ethically sourced and traceable coffee, Kahawa Roots is well-positioned to redefine the future of the sustainable coffee trade — where every bean carries a story, and every cup makes a difference.

From Elevate, we hope to gain:

  • Strategic mentorship to refine our business model, partnerships, and go-to-market approach.
  • Support in supply chain optimisation and operations management, especially around UK compliance and logistics.
  • Expertise in building our tech-enabled traceability system.
  • Access to funding and investment networks to scale sustainably.
  • A community of like-minded entrepreneurs where we can share, learn, and grow together.

Get Involved

We are currently seeking an investment of £45,000 to support the next growth phase of Kahawa Roots. This funding will be used to build a strong foundation for our ethical and traceable green coffee export business from Kenya to the UK. 

Contact Details

 

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