Barista Mtaani at UNEA-7: Brewing Conversations on Youth, Coffee, and Climate Resilience
As the world gathers for UNEA-7—its most influential assembly on the environment—one small but powerful presence is drawing delegates, government leaders, development partners, and global thinkers into a different kind of dialogue. The smell of freshly pulled espresso, the soft hum of a mobile coffee bar, and the warm welcome of young Kenyan baristas signal more than just good coffee.
Barista Mtaani is here. And we are brewing purpose.
Positioned right next to the Kilimanjaro Meeting Rooms, our Espresso on the Move / Espresso on Wheels setup is creating a unique space where delegates can pause, reflect, and experience firsthand the story of Kenya’s youth, Kenya’s coffee, and Kenya’s fight for climate resilience.
Brewing More Than Coffee
Barista Mtaani isn’t just serving cups; we are serving stories.
Every shot of espresso pulls with it a narrative—of the young people we train, the farmers who grow the beans, and the communities whose livelihoods depend on a crop that is deeply threatened by climate change. Our baristas represent a new generation: educated, skilled, climate-conscious, and determined to shape a fairer future for Kenyan coffee.
Behind their craft are months of training from Kenya Coffee School—where youth learn not only the science of extraction and latte art, but also agronomy, sustainability, and the evolving dynamics of specialty coffee markets.
For UNEA-7, we bring that entire ecosystem to the global stage.
Kenyan Youth at the Heart of a Global Transformation
Barista Mtaani stands as a living symbol of what youth empowerment looks like in a climate-vulnerable sector. At UNEA-7, we are showcasing how skill development, value addition, and education are transforming young people from job seekers into job creators.
As you pick up your espresso near the Kilimanjaro rooms, you’ll meet youth who understand:
- how altitude affects acidity,
- how climate shifts are changing flowering cycles,
- how sustainable processing reduces emissions,
- and how innovation can keep farmers profitable and communities resilient.
These young baristas are not just serving coffee—they are translating the science and struggle of the farm into the language of the cup.
Telling the Story of the Farmer
Every bean we brew at UNEA-7 is Kenyan. And every bean carries the weight of a changing climate.
Farmers across Embu, Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Murang’a, and other regions are already confronting:
- unpredictable rainfall,
- rising temperatures,
- pest outbreaks,
- and shrinking suitable growing zones.
Yet they continue to carry Kenya’s coffee heritage with extraordinary resilience.
Barista Mtaani is here to make sure UNEA-7 hears their story. We bring the farmer’s voice into the meeting rooms—not through speeches alone, but through taste, aroma, and the daily ritual that millions around the world cherish.
A Cup of Coffee, A Conversation on Climate
At UNEA-7, a cup of espresso becomes a climate conversation.
Delegates stopping by our cart are discovering that coffee is not merely a beverage—it is a climate indicator. A livelihood. A cultural pillar. And a warning signal of the environmental challenges ahead.
Our youth baristas are engaging leaders in discussions about:
- climate-smart practices,
- agroforestry,
- soil health,
- water conservation,
- carbon-neutral value chains,
- and the urgent need for climate adaptation funding for coffee-growing communities.
Because behind every espresso, there is a climate story waiting to be told.
Espresso on Wheels: Where Sustainability Meets Mobility
Our Espresso on the Move cart is more than a mobile café—it is a symbol of adaptability. Just like farmers adjusting to new climate realities, our baristas take coffee anywhere conversations need to happen.
At UNEA-7, that mobility means:
- bringing sustainability lessons directly to delegates,
- reducing barriers between youth and global leaders,
- and demonstrating how innovation can elevate Kenyan coffee at every level.
The coffee is high quality, but the vision behind it is even higher.
Visit Us — Taste the Future of Sustainable Coffee
If you are attending UNEA-7, we invite you to stop by.
Find Barista Mtaani beside the Kilimanjaro Meeting Rooms.
Grab a cup of Kenyan espresso—brewed with passion, purpose, and precision.
Let’s talk about youth empowerment, about farmers, about GOOD Trade Certification, and about building resilience into the heart of the coffee sector.
With every cup, we bring you into Kenya’s climate journey.
With every conversation, we move closer to a fair, sustainable future.
Barista Mtaani is here at UNEA-7—serving, brewing, and telling the story of Kenya’s youth, Kenya’s farmers, and the climate resilience our future depends on.