Unlocking the economic potential of specialty coffee in Nepal

Nepal is a promising specialty coffee producer thanks to its suitable climate, high altitude and access to the third-largest freshwater reserve on the planet via the Himalayas. Rens Nijholt investigates how this captivating country is navigating challenges around infrastructure and investment to unlock the economic power of specialty coffee

“Sometimes I wonder out loud: what am I doing here?” says Ben Kostwinder when asked what it is like to work in Nepal. “At the same time, there are so many beautiful and rewarding aspects to it.”

Kostwinder and his wife Linda founded 80days in 2016, a year after a devastating 7.3 magnitude earthquake killed nearly 9,000 people and left many more thousands homeless. After seeing the huge potential of coffee to stimulate the economy and provide vital income for rural communities, 80days works with Nepalese farmers to hone production and provide a direct export route to the Dutch market.

With the slogan ‘coffee without aftertaste,’ 80days is working to create economic opportunities for farmers and improve the lives of communities. According to Kostwinder, that mission is sorely needed. “Nepal is a beautiful country with great nature and a rich culture, but it also has a downside,” he says.