Feature: Kenyan coffee shops eye bonanza as cold season hits crescendo

The freezing cold that enveloped the Kenyan capital Nairobi on Wednesday created a lull in the normally busy offices as young workers dashed into nearby coffee shops to revitalize their mind and body with hot beverages.

At the Azuri cafe and restaurant that is located at the heart of Nairobi, a young crowd filled the expansive balcony while engaging in hearty banter over steamy specialty coffee.

The elegantly dressed cast of young professionals enjoyed every moment as waiters refilled their mugs with cappuccino and latte.

Sam Gitau, 29, a self-employed IT professional, was part of the crowd that devoted an entire afternoon to a lively debate over coffee as biting cold swept the nearby streets.

During a conversation with Xinhua, Gitau said his sojourn at Azure Cafe was motivated by a desire to beat cold while networking with old friends.

"Going by the huge crowd that has filled this cafe to enjoy exotic coffee, it is evident that nobody is prepared to endure freezing cold outdoors. I feel at home while boding with old friends over hot latte and organic tea," said Gitau.

Gitau also hailed coffee shops for creating a space for youngsters to interact and discuss business opportunities.

"Let me admit that were it not for cafes and restaurants, some of us would be struggling to find our footing in the cut-throat world of work and business," Gitau said.

"The youth will spend their last coin in a cafe that has ambience and class. Our loyalty to coffee shops will be unrivalled as the cold season reaches a peak."

A male waiter at Azuri cafe who requested anonymity told Xinhua that the business has been brisk since mid June when the cold season kicked off.

According to the waiter, demand for specialty coffee and green tea among youthful clients has been at an all time high this month.

Gitau and his young comrades bore witness to the bonanza coffee shops had relished the better of this month as the cold season kicked off in many parts of Kenya.

Both the young and ageing Kenyans left nothing to chance in their bid to warm themselves with hot beverages in swanky cafes spread across Nairobi's central business district.

The Kilimanjaro Jamia coffee shop that opened to the public recently in the Kenyan capital was a beehive of activity on Wednesday as dusk beckoned from a distance.

An architectural masterpiece located at a busy intersection, the cafe has struck a chord with upwardly mobile young Kenyans in search of solace.

Besides the alluring interior décor and comfy seats, Kilimanjaro café has an expansive balcony that can accommodate a huge crowd at any given hour.

Well heeled Kenyans and foreigners mingled freely as they sipped exotic coffee served in paper cups.

To a keen observer, the cafe is the embodiment of upward mobility and opportunities that a thriving Kenyan economy has unleashed lately.

Cathy Kendi, an administrative secretary with a listed company, disclosed to Xinhua that she has been a frequent guest to the swanky establishment near her workplace.

"This cafe has an enduring appeal to people from all walks of life and as the cold season sets in, I will not be surprised to see the entire space occupied," Kendi said.

Across the street, Kaldis coffee shop had a capacity crowd as the evening chill forced Nairobians to seek solace in steaming mugs of locally blended coffee and tea varieties.

The cafe's management had a premonition of brisk business ahead of the onset of cold season as evidenced by additional chairs and tables that were placed at the entrance.

A female supervisor at the Kaldis cafe, who spoke to Xinhua in confidence, disclosed that this year's cold season witnessed unprecedented spike in demand for indigenous coffee and tea. Endit