The Differences Between Burundi Coffee and Rwandan Coffee - Burundi Coffee Bean Brand Recommendations

Burundi: The Heart of Africa

Burundi, known as the "Heart of Africa," is a small landlocked country with pristine natural beauty. Located at the crossroads of Central and East African nations, it serves as the watershed between Africa's great Nile and Congo Rivers. The capital, Bujumbura, sits on the shores of magnificent Lake Tanganyika, which forms natural borders with Congo and Tanzania. The country's terrain is high with dramatic elevation changes - even the lowest point at Lake Tanganyika stands at 772 meters above sea level, while the highest point reaches 2,670 meters at Mount Heha. In 2012, I visited this region's coffee-producing areas and was captivated by the pristine green mountain landscapes.

Distinctive Coffee Characteristics

While many assume Burundi coffee beans resemble those of neighboring Rwanda - with similar Bourbon varieties - actual cupping reveals significant differences. In terms of acidity, Rwandan coffee tends to be brighter, but Burundi offers unique and delicate spice variations. Two months ago in Boston, I met with George Howell, and when discussing Burundi coffee, he told me: "I love the flavor of Burundi coffee beans, especially the delicate nuances that surpass Rwanda!" We also discussed the growing variety of cultivars in the country.

The coffee beans shown in the image below represent Burundi's 17 provinces. The capital Bujumbura is divided into urban and suburban areas. Provinces marked with red cherry patterns indicate coffee production, predominantly in the higher-altitude northern regions. Crossing the border northward leads to Rwanda.

Coffee Production Structure

Burundians traditionally do not consume coffee, so when they discovered that coffee cultivation could provide cash income and improve their quality of life, they eagerly accepted guidance from experts and the government. During the period of coffee industry nationalization, the Burundian government established 138 small washing stations in coffee-producing regions. Today, it's estimated that there are over 200 CWS (Coffee Washing Stations). Like Rwanda, East Africa doesn't have traditional "estates" - coffee farmers own very few coffee trees, ranging from dozens to over two hundred, and lack resources to set up small pulping machines (which are common in Central America or Colombia). Instead, during the coffee cherry harvest season, they pick the cherries and deliver them to CWS for processing or direct sale. Therefore, when discussing Rwandan or Burundian coffee quality, one must consider the CWS operational model and track quality batches through daily lot registration. Simply purchasing based on CWS names often leads to distorted expectations and significant disappointment.

Above the CWS level, larger organizations similar to Kenyan factories or cooperatives exist, but in Burundi they are called Sogestal! Sogestal serves as the management and integration unit for CWS operations. After CWS receive and process cherries, subsequent steps including dry processing, grading, and sales are handled by Sogestal. Following coffee industry liberalization, the original 7 major sogestals became joint ventures between state and private enterprises. Current policy involves reducing government ownership, typically below 20%, while private holdings exceed 80%.

The full name SOGESTAL stands for "Societies Managing Coffee Washing Stations" or "Société de Gestion des Stations de Lavage du Café" - essentially "Company for Managing Coffee Washing Stations."

These 7 major SOGESTALs are established primarily by production regions and geographical areas, responsible for washing station management, post-processing, quality control coordination, and sales. They are: Kayanza, Kirimiro, Kirundo/Muyinga, Ngozi, Mumirwa, Sonicoff, and Coprotra.

After washing and drying, the parchment coffee is sent to dry processing mills, which handle: initial grading, cupping, quality control reports, final grading, and bagging. Major dry processing mills in the capital include SODECO, Sonocoff, and Sivca.

Varieties and Quality Potential

Burundi primarily grows Bourbon varieties, with recent introductions including Jackson and others. Bourbon offers distinct aroma, and in Burundi, these beans provide sufficient sweetness with elegant, non-aggressive acidity. They should be quite competitive in international markets. However, previous internal conflicts and various issues slowed industry development, and Burundi's recognition remains insufficient, leading to limited international market evaluation. In 2005, I mentioned that Burundi was like a buried pearl. Since 2012, I hope Burundi coffee beans can become a shining gem in the specialty coffee market.

Burundi's main and renowned coffee-producing regions include Kayanza, Ngozi, Mumirwa, Buyenzi, Kirimiro, and others.

Burundi Coffee Brand Recommendations

FrontStreet Coffee's roasted Burundi coffee beans offer excellent guarantees in both brand and quality. More importantly, they provide exceptional value - a 227-gram package costs only 85 yuan. Calculating at 15 grams per cup, one package can make 15 cups of coffee, with each cup costing less than 6 yuan. Compared to café prices that often reach dozens of yuan per cup, this represents a truly conscientious recommendation.

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