The Kenyan film industry is making waves with an all-new concept born out of coffee. Produced by Find My Africa in partnership with Nairobi Java House, Love and Coffee is a debut film that blends romance, family pressures, and class struggles with the dynamics of the country’s coffee sector. The film premiered on Valentine’s Day of 2025 and offers an intuitive exploration of Kenya’s coffee sector and the socio-economic intricacies that shape it.
“Love and Coffee is my first film, and it marks the realization of a dream that began six years ago,” says David Mudachi, the film’s Executive Producer. “At its core, it delivers a powerful message [that] it’s time for African governments and stakeholders to prioritize value addition in key export sectors and doing so not only strengthens our economies but also generates sustainable employment and reclaims ownership over our resources and narratives.”
The film follows a love story between Sarah Njeri (played by Wambui Ngugi), a highly passionate and independent barista, and Felix Munene (played by Khula Budi), an heir to one of the country’s wealthiest business empires. The two bring to the fore the power of love in transcending social classes and societal divides while exposing economic and ethical issues bedeviling one of Kenya’s most important exports—coffee. Barista Sarah is determined to reform the coffee sector that forms the economic backbone of many smallholder farmers, but leaves them still languishing in poverty. Felix balances between responsibilities placed upon him as an heir to an influential empire and his desire for independence, with love for Sarah in the mix.
Adding to the already tense brew, Kendi (played by Joyce Maina), who is Felix’s former girlfriend and a shadow from the past, enters the scene trying to relight their relationship and shaking the two lovebirds’ relationship to the core in the process. Beyond love, the film goes deep into societal divisions, economic justice, family struggles, and community expectations, exposing Kenya’s coffee sector as a battlefield for fairness and economic reforms.
Mudachi notes that for far too long, Africa’s narratives—and even its history—have been told and written predominantly by non-Africans. While this isn’t inherently negative, it often leads to misrepresentations and inaccuracies. He believes the lack of authentic narratives from within Africa has significantly shaped how the world perceives the continent, noting that the consequences of this absence are profound (the erosion of culture, the loss of identity, and a disconnection from our roots).”
It was natural for the producers to tie the movie to coffee. They employed a “hook and catch” storytelling approach where the “hook” was the love story (an element that universally resonates with audiences). Because everyone enjoys a compelling romantic narrative, they used this emotional connection to draw viewers in. However, the love story went beyond just entertainment to explore deeper, weightier socio-economic themes.
“As an avid coffee enthusiast, I’ve observed a growing appreciation for quality coffee among Kenyans and Africans more broadly. Coffee, therefore, was a deliberate choice [to use in the film] not only because of its cultural significance but also because it symbolized a larger conversation around value addition and economic empowerment,” Mudachi informs us.
As a communications specialist with experience in the non-profit and development sectors in Africa, Mudachi has traveled extensively on the continent and has made interesting observations.
“One recurring and deeply concerning observation was the striking similarity in the challenges faced by many African countries, he tells us, “chief among them being the overreliance on imports and the underdevelopment of local value-addition industries.”
The executive Producer also concurs that in the early post-independence years, many African nations invested in industries designed to add value to local raw materials. For instance, Kenya once had a thriving textile industry that transformed locally grown cotton into finished products. Today, the country relies a great deal on imports to meet local demand. This shift begs the question: What changed?
“We believe that Africa continues to be entangled in a web of strategic and systemic manipulation—policies and global structures that incentivize the export of raw materials at minimal profit for the African, only for those same materials to return as expensive, value-added products [as seen in coffee]. This imbalance perpetuates economic dependency and stifles industrial growth on the continent,” Mudachi tells us.
In writing Love and Coffee, the producers were intentional about portraying Africans as conscious and capable agents of change. The narrative emphasizes that Africans are not only aware of the systemic issues affecting their economies but are also willing and able to take the necessary steps to address them without relying on external intervention. It’s a story of self-awareness, resilience, and the power of homegrown solutions.
Choosing Wambui Ngugi as the lead actor was informed by her embodiment of deeply rooted African values, such as a strong sense of community and personal responsibility. Through her character, the producers sought to reflect the awareness many Africans have of the systemic challenges facing the continent, and the desire to confront and overcome them from within. The film seeks to promote African pride, dignity, and cultural integrity using film and coffee. It has already secured distribution through select international airlines, and currently available for rental on Find My Africa.
“Our partnership with Nairobi Java House was a natural fit, grounded in a shared commitment to value addition as a key driver of sustainable economic growth. Java’s business model exemplifies how African enterprises can create jobs and transform local economies by processing and promoting homegrown products rather than simply exporting raw materials. Together, we aim to inspire a broader movement toward economic empowerment through African-led solutions,” Mudachi concludes.
Daniel Muraga is an anthropologist and freelance journalist based in Nairobi.
