Coffee culture

Is Rwanda Washed Bourbon Coffee Good? How to Make Rwandan Coffee

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee
Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Professional barista discussions - follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat ID: cafe_style) Variety: BM-139 (bourbon) Processing Station: Mushonyi Washing Station Estate Owner: 1,756 smallholder farmers (each farmer cultivates approximately 253 coffee trees) Flavor Notes: Red apple, cherry, cinnamon, honey 【Mushonyi Washing Station has an impressive record of awards, notably winning the prestigious COE (Cup of Excellence) award in 2010

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Coffee Information

Variety: BM-139 (Bourbon)

Processing Station: Mushonyi Washing Station

Farm Owner: 1,756 small-scale member farmers (each farmer cultivates approximately 253 trees)

Flavor Profile: Red apple, cherry, cinnamon, honey

Exceptional Award Record

The Mushonyi washing station's award record is truly impressive. Beyond winning the Cup of Excellence championship in 2010, they achieved remarkable success in 2011 alone with four batches securing championship, 12th place, 16th place, and 28th place!

Rwanda's Emerging Specialty Coffee Scene

Rwanda stands out as one of East Africa's rapidly developing specialty coffee-producing nations. While many still recall the tragic memory of the Rwandan genocide, the quality improvement of their specialty coffee has been equally remarkable. This year, we've cupped several Rwandan coffees that exhibit refreshing qualities and beautifully elegant acidity.

Flavor Notes

This batch offers distinct notes of red apple, cherry, cinnamon, and honey, complemented by excellent sweetness and balance. The finish reveals hints of cinnamon, almond, and chocolate.

Brewing Recommendation

For pour-over brewing of this Rwandan coffee: Use 15g of coffee grounds with medium-fine grind (Fuji Rokusuke grinder setting 3.5), V60 dripper, water temperature 90-92°C. Begin with 30g water for a 27-second bloom, then pour to 105g and pause. Wait until the water level drops to half before continuing the pour. Slowly pour until reaching 225g total, discarding the tail end. Water-to-coffee ratio of 1:15, total extraction time 2:00.

Product Details

Manufacturer: Dazhen Coffee FrontStreet Coffee

Address: No. 10 Bao'an Front Street, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou

Contact: 020-38364473

Ingredients: House-roasted

Shelf Life: 30 days

Net Weight: 227g

Packaging: Bulk

Taste Profile: Sweet coffee beans

Roast Level: Roasted coffee beans

Sugar Content: Sugar-free

Origin: Rwanda

Coffee Type: Other

Coffee Origin Details

Name: Rwanda West Province Rutsiro Mushonyi CWS Bourbon

Country: Rwanda

Region: Rutsiro district, Western Province

Altitude: 1,827 meters

Rainfall: >1,500mm

About Bourbon Variety

Bourbon coffee (French: Café Bourbon) is coffee produced from Coffea arabica Bourbon cultivar trees. Bourbon coffee was originally cultivated on Réunion Island, which was known as Île Bourbon before 1789. It was later occupied by the French and connected to the African continent and Latin America. Today, it remains one of the two most widespread Arabica coffee production regions globally. Bourbon coffee is typically grown at altitudes between 3,500 to 6,500 feet (1,062–1,972 meters).

Bourbon Characteristics

Variety: Bourbon

Related to: Heirloom

Origin: Bourbon Island

Optimal Growing Altitude: 800 meters and above

Type: Heirloom

Common in: Suitable coffee-growing regions worldwide

Main Cherry Color: Red, yellow, and orange, but predominantly red

Cherry Size: Medium

Leaf Characteristics: Broad and short

Processing: Washed, raised African bed sun-drying

Rwanda Coffee Processing

Like many African countries, Rwanda's coffee production is predominantly smallholder-based. During each harvest season, farmers gather ripe coffee cherries and deliver them to processing stations. Farmers first hand-pick the ripe coffee cherries and bring them to processing stations for handling. The process begins with manual sorting to ensure no unripe or damaged fruits are included. Next, the pulp is removed, followed by a 12-18 hour washed fermentation process in cool, low-temperature environments. After fermentation, the adhering mucilage is thoroughly cleaned in channels. During the raised bed drying process, station members manually turn the beans with careful attention, ensuring that under adequate sunlight, the parchment coffee doesn't lose moisture unevenly until the moisture content stabilizes below 14%.

Our Selection

We have previously introduced several specialty coffees from Rwanda's Nyamasheke region. This carefully selected Mushonyi comes from the Rutsiro region, located north of Nyamasheke and also situated along Lake Kivu. The high altitude, fertile volcanic soil, and excellent climate combine to produce exceptional coffee. We will continue to deeply explore this gem of a coffee-producing region in Rwanda. This batch is a direct trade purchase from the washing station - the freshest batch from the 2015 harvest season (approximately June to September)!

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473

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