Feature: Kenyan coffee shops spruce up for bonanza in cold season

The young crowd that occupied comfy seats at Gibsons coffee shop on Tuesday evening was buried in a hearty banter that was not distracted by commotion in the nearby street.

Located at the heart of Kenya's capital, Nairobi, Gibsons is a favorite destination for young and upwardly mobile Kenyans who frequent there to sample specialty coffee and delicious snacks.

Besides its alluring interior decor, Gibsons has an ambience that has resonated with young professionals who meet there to network and exchange information on new opportunities.

Currently a coveted indigenous brand, Gibsons has competed evenly with foreign coffee shops in terms of customer royalty and bottom lines.

A sizeable crowd streamed into Gibsons coffee shop on Tuesday evening as a piercing chill spread across the Nairobi skyline.

The management of the trendy joint has invested in stylish furniture, beautiful artworks and courteous service providers hence its popularity among young clientele.

A female supervisor at Gibsons coffee shop, who preferred anonymity, revealed the number of clients has increased after the management spruced up the joint.

"We are conscious of high expectations among our youthful clients and have focused on style and glamour in order to retain them. There is a huge competition in this business hence the need to stand out from the crowd,"said the female supervisor.

Gibsons was a pioneer in blending and brewing indigenous coffee varieties, and has lately spread tentacles in different parts of Nairobi and its environs.

The onset of the cold season in Kenya heralds a bonanza for coffee shops that have mushroomed in the wake of rising incomes among the urban population.

To remain afloat in an otherwise competitive business, Kenyan coffee shops have devised innovative techniques to lure customers.

The coffee shop located at the ground floor of the three-star Clarion Hotel in downtown Nairobi is always filled to capacity thanks to its ambience and availability of free wireless connection.

Kenyan techies flock this establishment to network and catch up with the latest development in their industry.

Sam Njenga, a 28-year-old software developer who frequents Clarion hotel, told Xinhua the specialty coffee served there is not only tasty but budget friendly.

"Many people nowadays are looking for a coffee shop that rises above the fray in terms of menu, furnishing and service. The wireless connection is an added advantage," he said.

As the cold season in Kenya reaches a climax in the month of August, coffee shops have reported a windfall. Famous brands like Java, Dormans, Kaldis and Gibsons have struck a chord with middle class Kenyans with disposable income to spend on specialty coffee or herbal tea.

At the Kaldis coffee shop located in a busy Nairobi street, clients engaged in high octane conversation as waiters served them with latte and cappuccino. The interior decor at Kaldis is outstanding while floor tiles sparkle after meticulous mopping by female cleaners.

A waitress at Kaldis told Xinhua the management has adopted suave measures to attract and retain customers in the light of cut-throat competition.

"We apply a fresh coat of paint regularly and have ordered new carvings as per request from art loving foreign clients. Our customers are very perceptive and will not settle for sub-standard service," said the waitress.

Savvy investors have acquired struggling coffee shops in downtown Nairobi and converted them into thriving enterprising. A spot check by Xinhua revealed that old and bland coffee shops have been revitalized through painting, comfy furniture and landscaping.

Most of Kenyan coffee lovers agreed that emergence of new and trendy establishments have guaranteed them quality. Enditem