Rwanda’s coffee sector keeps opening different ways for youth to move ahead, and some young entrepreneurs are making use of this reality, to build real professional routes for others. One of them is Muhorakeye Annet, founder of Elite Cafe Training Center. The center started in 2022 in Niboye Sector, Kicukiro District. Since then, it has slowly become a place for focused training and coffee-related services, for people who want more than just basic knowledge.

Annet’s path came from a personal enthusiasm, she discovered it while working in the hospitality sector. Every day, she interacted with coffee enthusiasts and you could see how coffee can link people together, and also create lasting memories. She began to notice that not everyone really understands what goes on behind the cup.

"I got more and more interested in the whole coffee value chain, from growing and processing to roasting and the whole idea of brewing, like making the right cup, "Annet explains. At the time, she says, getting deep, proper knowledge was not easy, because many practitioners only had simple serving know-how, nothing more, not really.

So, to fill that gap and with guidance from sector experts, Annet created Elite Cafe Training Center. In the beginning it was not smooth, with limited capital and a constant pressure around equipment access, plus earning market trust. But the work kept moving, and now the center has grown. Today, it provides professional Barista training, coffee roasting services, event catering, and sells packaged specialty coffee together with natural juices.

What makes Elite Cafe feel different is the learning path. The center takes learners from the basic entry point, all the way to professional-level mastery. "Our intention is that each graduate becomes market-ready, with both practical technique and the theoretical clarity around what they do," Annet notes. Training also includes “soft skills”, meaning professional ethics, customer care, and communication, so youth can either find employment or create their own small enterprises, not just dream about it.

Since the start, the training center has supported almost 1,000 young Rwandans coming from across the country. Several graduates found roles in well-known hotels and cafes, while others started their own coffee businesses, step by step. One major highlight was winning the YouthConnekt competition, which is organized by the Ministry of Youth. The center received RWF 25 million, and that money was key for upgrading equipment and expanding operations.

When speaking to other youth, Annet encourages investment in agribusiness. She says they should begin with what they already have and keep a strong professional discipline, even when it feels small. "Don’t fear to start, even if it looks small," she says, "because small beginnings can turn into big achievements."

Looking ahead, Elite Cafe Training Center wants to become a top regional reference in coffee expertise during the next five years, continuing to connect the skills gap with sustainable youth jobs, inside Rwanda and outside as well.

RYAF Communication Team