Complete Guide to Rwanda Coffee Beans Information_Starbucks Rwanda Coffee Beans Price Per Bag

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Rwanda: A Small East African Nation Not to Be Overlooked

This small East African nation should not be overlooked by roasters and coffee enthusiasts alike. Known as the Land of a Thousand Hills, its high-quality, high-altitude coffee coexists with its poverty.

It's not Africa's largest coffee-producing country; in 2016, it harvested only 220,000 bags (60kg each), compared to Ethiopia's 7.1 million bags and Uganda's 4.9 million bags. However, Rwanda is positioning itself as a world-class specialty coffee producer.

What Roasters Should Know About Rwandan Coffee

But what aspects of Rwandan coffee should roasters understand? What are its flavors and aromas? How is it produced? What kind of roasting styles does it have?

Coffee: A Symbol of Hope

Rwanda didn't originally grow coffee. Coffee was introduced to the country around the early 20th century by German missionaries. Since then, coffee has been a source of economic income for many rural families.

However, no record of Rwandan history can ignore the tragedy of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, during which 800,000 people were killed in just 100 days and up to 250,000 women were raped. Following the tragedy, various guild organizations began to form, such as the Partnership for Enhancing Agriculture in Rwanda through Linkages (PEARL) and Sustainable Partnerships to Enhance Rural Enterprises and Agricultural Development (SPREAD). Both PEARL and SPREAD, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), aimed to support Rwanda's agricultural reconstruction.

As one of the country's most valuable crops, coffee became a focal point of the agricultural reconstruction plan. The impact of investments in infrastructure and coffee producer training remains evident today.

Despite this, Rwanda still faces many challenges: for example, approximately 40% of the population lives in poverty. However, as of 2016, coffee was Rwanda's fourth-largest export, with annual exports worth $59.4 million. The development of the coffee industry can continue to help the country's economic recovery.

Rwanda's National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) states that its coffee strategy is to "position Rwanda as a specialty coffee-producing country" and "enable the coffee industry to better contribute to national development and prosperity." It notes that price increases are a sign of its success and focuses on improving production and processing measures.

Coffee Processing, Production, and Flavor

The reason many love Rwandan coffee beans is for their syrupy, rich mouthfeel - this sweet, dense characteristic is partly attributed to the coffee varieties: most Rwandan coffee beans are either Bourbon or Bourbon derivatives.

However, in Rwanda, you'll find a variety of coffee flavors: cherry, grape, lemon, chocolate, cantaloupe, orange, nectarine, candy, apricot, plum, and more. Beyond the clean, refreshing citrus acidity, dates are also one of the special features of Rwandan coffee flavor.

These fruity characteristics come from the country's excellent growing conditions. In Rwanda, there are approximately 400,000 smallholder producers (NAEB), with most farms situated at altitudes of 1,700-2,000 meters. High altitude increases the complexity of coffee flavors (thus requiring higher temperatures and RoR during the roasting process).

The country's coffee mostly comes from the southern and western regions, but there are actually five distinct producing areas. In the northwest, there's the volcanic Virunga region (home to the famous Silverback gorillas). In the west, the Kivu region lies beside Lake Kivu. The central region has the Kizi Rift area. Further south is the Akagera region, with relatively lower altitudes (1,300 meters). Last but not least is the eastern Muhazi region.

Of course, all these coffee regions are different. However, across the country's producing areas, the altitude is generally high with nitrogen-rich volcanic soil. These create excellent conditions for producing high-quality coffee beans.

Fully Washed Processing

In the past, Rwandan coffee beans were processed by individual farmers themselves, resulting in inconsistent quality, before being mixed with coffee processed from neighboring farms. However, after the genocide turmoil, both the government and PEARL organizations encouraged producers to invest in fully washed processing methods. Now there are 245 processing stations nationwide.

It's worth noting that fully washed processing, also called double washed, typically involves slightly different methods than standard washed processing. Coffee is usually soaked twice, a method common in Africa but uncommon in Latin America. Of course, if you look hard enough, you'll find other processing methods. However, the typical Rwandan coffee flavor is: high sweetness, rich and full-bodied.

(Editor's note: Wet fermentation is sometimes referred to as "double washed," "double fermented," "Kenyan washed," etc. This processing method is more common in East Africa and can enhance clarity. After removing the coffee fruit pulp, parchment coffee is placed in water for soaking. Water can extend fermentation time and produce smooth body and complex acidity, along with more subtle flavors. Different temperatures and water quality become important influencing factors. We still have much to explore and learn about the effects of different water qualities on coffee fermentation.)

What Challenges Does Rwanda Face?

Today, Rwanda's coffee industry is stronger than ever, but it still faces challenges. One of the biggest issues is the "potato taste defect" problem, which affects the quality of Rwandan and Burundian coffee. The potato taste defect is caused by an ant insect that extracts nutrients from the cherries. During harvest season, the tiny punctures caused by the ant insects are difficult to detect, but the resulting raw potato smell is noticeable in cupping.

Additionally, coffee growers and producers in Rwanda face challenges that exist worldwide: climate change, decreasing land suitable for coffee cultivation, low prices... However, Rwanda's coffee industry continues to develop, with a focus on quality and processing methods.

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