Rwanda is an origin that has a lot of history, so we wanted to provide some context on this origin report. Let's start from the beginning. Like most East African countries (with the exception of Ethiopia), coffee trees were planted by the colonial government in the early 1900’s. Coffee in Europe was booming at this time and in order to supply the growing demand, high-yield, low-cost varieties were planted all over the country. The intention was for coffee to be a cheap commodity available in abundance. The colonial government held strict mandates on taxes and exports over the farmers, practically enslaving them to the industry.
While coffee became the staple agricultural export by the 1990s, its production, along with the national economy in general, was devastated by the genocide in 1994. Nearly 1 million people were killed in the national tragedy, which stalled development and slowed progress for nearly a decade. In response to this terrible tragedy, targeted programs initiated by the government in the early 2000s encouraged Rwandans to use specialty coffee as one of the means to recover and to create a new agricultural market. A pathway out of poverty. The construction of the first washing station with international support was in 2004, and the country was the first to host a Cup of Excellence auction, bringing international recognition to the “Land of a Thousand Hills'' as a potential producer of exceptional quality.
Today, this tiny country (roughly the size of Maryland), has a reputation for special quality and unique characteristics. We need to also note the incredible story of its development as a specialty-coffee origin since the genocide, which has made Rwanda a stand out among African origins.
This is our first time releasing a coffee from the Karambi Washing Station. Its smooth and balanced flavor profile is complemented with notes of vanilla and cherry. The Karambi washing station is located near the famous Lake Kivu, where growing conditions are optimal. Good Altitude, great soil, and favorable rainfall all contribute to producing this wonderful coffee.
The altitude in the region starts at 1,700 meters and extends up to 2,000 meters above sea level. During harvest season it is in active place, with around 120 experienced staff members continuously attending to the process in detail. It serves a wide range of farmers in the region and over 66% of the farmers delivering coffee to the washing station are women! After purchasing cherry from producers, Karambi sends the cherry through a strict sorting process. After selection and rinsing, cherry goes straight to raised beds, where they are spread out in a very thin layer and then raked frequently to ensure even drying. It takes around 3 weeks for the cherry to dry on the raised beds. After it is dried it goes through the typical Dry Mill process where it is then prepped for export.
Modern Rwanda is considered one of the most stable countries in the region. Since 2003, its economy has grown by 7-8% per year and coffee production has played a key role in this economic growth. Coffee has also played a key role in Rwanda’s significant advancements towards gender equality. New initiatives that cater to women and focus on helping them equip themselves with the tools and knowledge for farming have been changing the way women view themselves and interact with the world around them.
With over 66% of the farmers of this coffee being women and its stellar quality, this is a wonderful example of modern specialty coffee in Rwanda!