My Experience Serving Coffee at the WRC Safari Rally Kenya 2026

When I arrived in Naivasha for the Safari Rally Kenya in 2026, the atmosphere was already electric. Dust hung in the air, engines roared across the Rift Valley terrain, and thousands of spectators gathered from all over the world to witness one of the toughest rallies in motorsport.

But my mission that weekend was different.

I was there to serve Kenyan specialty coffee to the world.

Representing Kenya Coffee School and Barista Mtaani, we set up a pop-up coffee bar to introduce rally fans, drivers, mechanics, journalists, and tourists to the real taste of Kenya.

The First Cup

Early in the morning, before the rally stages began, the service park started filling with activity. Mechanics prepared the cars while media crews moved between tents. That was when the first visitors walked toward our coffee station.

The smell of freshly ground Kenyan coffee immediately attracted attention.

I prepared the first espresso of the day using a Gatanga, Gakurari FCS AA coffee, promotes by Kenya Coffee School and Mtaa Coffee as well as Hills Moka Coffee known for its vibrant blackcurrant and citrus notes. When the visitor took the first sip, their reaction was exactly what we hoped for.

“This is incredible. Is this really Kenyan coffee?”

I smiled and replied, “Yes. This is the coffee that comes from our highlands.”

Sharing the Story of Kenyan Coffee

Throughout the day, I served hundreds of cups. But more importantly, every cup became a conversation about Kenyan coffee.

Many visitors did not realize that Kenya produces some of the most complex coffees in the world. So I explained:

The volcanic soils of the Kenyan highlands
The washed processing method used by many factories
The unique flavor profile of Kenyan Arabica

Some visitors were surprised that coffee tasting could be similar to wine tasting.

Others wanted to learn how to brew coffee properly.

Barista Demonstrations

At different moments during the rally day, I demonstrated different brewing methods:

Espresso extraction
V60 pour-over brewing
Latte art

Fans gathered around the station, watching carefully as water flowed through freshly ground coffee. When the aroma spread through the crowd, more people came to taste.

The rally cars might have been the main attraction, but for a few moments, Kenyan coffee stole the show.

Coffee Meets Motorsport

One of the most exciting moments was serving coffee to rally team members. Mechanics, drivers, and journalists stopped by for a quick cup between stages.

Many of them told us that Kenyan coffee gave them the perfect energy boost during the long rally days.

That moment made me realize something powerful: coffee and motorsport share the same spirit.

Both are about precision, energy, and passion.

Representing Kenya to the World

Standing behind the coffee bar, I felt proud. Not just as a barista, but as someone representing the future of Kenyan coffee.

Through Kenya Coffee School and Barista Mtaani, we were showing the world that Kenya is not only a producer of great coffee — it is also a leader in coffee education and barista excellence.

Every cup served at the rally became a small ambassador of our coffee culture.