Clifton Coffee - Rwanda: Gisuma

The Rwandan coffee industry started to undergo privatisation in 2001: and the first private washing station was established in 2002, and the first container of fully washed, traceable, quality coffee was exported in 2003.

Today Rwanda has more than 300 washing stations spread throughout the whole country. There are significant differences in the flavor attributes in the different regions due to climate, soil, altitude and growing conditions. Small holder farmers with less than 200 trees pr farm make up the majority of the industry. One tree produces an average of 1.7kg cherries, meaning it takes hundreds, or sometimes even thousands, of farmers to produce and deliver enough cherries to a washing station for one regular batch of coffee.

This lot from the Gisuma washing station near Lake Kivu has consistently delivered high quality coffee and in 2013, it finished 3rd overall in the Rwandan Cup of Excellence. Cherry is harvested by around 150 local smallholders and delivered to the mill for pulping.

After fermentation and sun drying on raised beds, coffee is stored in parchment for upto 1 moth before being dry milled and hand sorted for defects.

Roasterr: Clifton Coffee

Clifton Coffee does not deliver to United Kingdom