This month we are pleased to welcome guest coffees from Uganda and Congo. Two neighbouring countries with some of the most beautiful landscape on earth. A great attribute of arabica speciality coffee is that they are grown in high altitude regions which contributes to the sweet taste and profiles. These two coffees give new meaning to ‘high’ quality coffee.
Uganda - Rwenzori
Known as the ‘Mountains of the Moon’, the famous Rwenzori Mountains stretch for 120 kilometres (74.5 Miles) along the Western Uganda border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. The snow capped peaks reach over 5,000 metres above sea level and support glaciers that are the start of many rivers flowing down the slopes.
This region on the foothills of the Rwenzori is one area where the government of Uganda is promoting coffee production as a key driver for rural development.
The farmers in this region on average own around 1 hectare of land, and all work on the farm is done by hand, by immediate family members. Farming families work together in groups to process and market their coffee, an approach known as ‘share farming’. This helps them to improve processing, better control quality and increases their marketing ability.
Farmers normally pick coffee at least once every week.The Kisinga coffee station presents a programme to farmers that incorporates processing infrastructure with agricultural extension services.
Altitude: 1700-2200 masl
Process: Natural
100% Arabica
Congo - Kivu
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the second-biggest country in Africa and with 87 million people it is the fourth-most populated country in the continent.
The DRC is re-emerging as a coffee producer across a number of different initiatives from both within and outside the country, and thanks to the optimal growing conditions the country offers, it is rapidly becoming renowned for its speciality coffee.
Co-operatives have formed across the country during the last decade some funded by international NGOs and state development agencies. The government set aside a hundred million dollars in 2012 to invest in the coffee sector, with a particular focus on coffee-growing regions which offers optimal conditions for high-quality arabica production.
This coffee is washed using a wet mill and dried on raised beds. Congo coffee often produces a rustic cup character different to it's neighbour Rwanda, from the opposite side of Lake Kivu. This is a zesty coffee full of citrus notes and sweet fruitiness. Enjoy this unique coffee brought to you from the beautiful DRC.
Region: RutshuruAltitude: 1250-1500 masl
Process: Washed
100% Arabica
Asante.