Rwanda, Bourbon, Natural, 200g

Rwanda
Variety - Bourbon
Process - Natural
washing station - Cyesha
Region - Nyamasheke District
Altitude - 1450-1750M

After years of hardship and war, Rwanda successfully rebuilt its coffee sector through stable governance and a focus on producing high-quality coffee. Today, Rwandan coffee is considered one of the leaders in Africa – not only a source of national pride but also a vital livelihood for thousands of families across the country.

The Cyesha Washing Station, founded in 2022, is located in Rwanda’s Western Province and collaborates with 470 skilled smallholder farmers. Its location, near Lake Kivu, provides ideal conditions for growing coffee thanks to the volcanic soil and the wind flow from the lake that helps in the coffee drying process.

After harvesting, the ripe cherries are transferred to large water tanks and undergo an initial sorting process, where damaged cherries float and are sent to composters. The cherries then undergo overnight fermentation in water tanks for 12 hours. After the fermentation, the cherries are mechanically depulped.

During the processing, a traditional ceremony called IKINIMBA takes place, where the pickers sing and dance while stomping on the beans. The ceremony, which lasts about 25 minutes, is an integral part of the local culture. Afterward, the beans are washed and sorted by size and density through dedicated channels. The sorting and filtering are done by hand, and finally, the beans are dried for about a month.

This coffee has bright, refreshing acidity and fruity notes. It has a balanced sweetness and smooth mouthfeel. It'll shine through all brewing methods.