What Are the Flavor Profiles of Rwandan Coffee Beans? How to Brew Rwandan Coffee? Rwandan Coffee Varieties
Professional coffee knowledge exchange, more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account: cafe_style)
The Rise of Rwandan Coffee: A Phoenix Reborn
Rwandan coffee is the most popular African coffee after Kenya and Ethiopia. However, unlike these two famous producing countries, it lacks a long cultivation history and has no native varieties growing wild everywhere; this small African nation is a phoenix that has risen from the ashes.
Geography and Historical Background
Rwanda, known as the "Land of a Thousand Hills," sits on the equator and is surrounded by East African nations such as Congo, Uganda, Tanzania, and Burundi. Geographically, it possesses ideal conditions for coffee cultivation, but since its introduction by German missionaries in 1904, Rwandan coffee has been poorly processed commercial grade, with most of it exported to the colonial power Belgium. The promotion of specialty coffee production only began after experiencing the devastation of war and when the economy returned to normal.
Overcoming Tragedy: The Road to Recovery
The genocide that occurred in 1994 claimed over one million lives, mostly from the Tutsi tribe. To this day, Rwandan streets still bear witness to orphans who survived that year, memorials are visible everywhere, and war criminals constitute ninety percent of the total prison population! Since 2001, the Rwandan government established the NAEB (National Agriculture Export Development Board) with a focus on improving coffee exports to earn foreign exchange.
Quality Transformation: The Washing Station Revolution
With government support, farmers shifted from crude home processing to transporting freshly harvested fruits to nearby coffee washing stations for full washed processing. In just 12 years, the number of washing stations nationwide increased from two to 220. All are now privately owned, either by exporters or farmer cooperatives. Due to small average farm sizes (each farm averaging fewer than 200 coffee trees), each station serves approximately 50 to 100 farms. The NAEB employs 200 botanists and cuppers who regularly visit washing stations to inspect quality and educate farmers on soil management, organic cultivation, pruning, pest control, and harvesting techniques.
Harvest and Flavor Profile
March to July is the harvest season for Rwandan coffee beans.
African beans typically give an impression of intensity with wild and untamed characteristics, but Rwandan coffee is remarkably soft, aromatic, well-balanced, and much milder than beans from other regions—this is the first impression Rwandan coffee gives.
Because the country thrives primarily on producing high-quality coffee beans, Rwandan coffee's flavor is described as having "grass-like aroma" with tropical climate characteristics. This is precisely because Rwanda's exceptionally fertile soil and suitable climate greatly facilitate plant growth. The soft yet rich taste of Rwandan coffee is special, especially as it finishes with a unique rich caramel aroma and pleasant aftertaste.
Varieties and Cultivation
The coffee varieties grown in Rwanda are over 95% Arabica Bourbon, with small amounts of Catuai and Caturra. Cultivation altitude ranges between 1,200 to 1,800 meters. Flowering begins annually from September to October, with harvesting from March to July of the following year. In recent years, coffee organizations have introduced new processing methods to improve local production quality. Rwanda now almost universally uses the washed processing method for green beans, with cooperatives and estates sharing washing facilities to save costs.
Brewing Recommendations
FrontStreet Coffee suggests Rwandan coffee brewing parameters:
V60/1:15/90℃/two minutes
FrontStreet Coffee: A roastery in Guangzhou with a small shop but diverse variety of beans, where you can find various famous and lesser-known beans, while also providing online shop services. https://shop104210103.taobao.com
Important Notice :
前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:
FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou
Tel:020 38364473
- Prev
What Are Espresso Blend Coffee Beans? The Flavor Differences Between Blended and Single-Origin Coffee Beans
For more professional coffee knowledge exchange and coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (official WeChat account: cafe_style). What are espresso blend coffee beans? What are the differences from single-origin coffee beans? What is the purpose of espresso blends? Blended coffee beans are also known as formula coffee beans, mixed coffee beans, or blended coffee
- Next
Rwandan Coffee: How to Brew Rwandan Arabica Coffee Beans and Their Characteristics
Professional coffee knowledge exchange. For more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style). Rwanda is a poor agricultural country where 90% of the labor force works in agriculture. It is the most densely populated country in Africa, surrounded by land with few natural resources and underdeveloped industry, primarily relying on coffee and tea exports for foreign exchange.
Related
- How to make bubble ice American so that it will not spill over? Share 5 tips for making bubbly coffee! How to make cold extract sparkling coffee? Do I have to add espresso to bubbly coffee?
- Can a mocha pot make lattes? How to mix the ratio of milk and coffee in a mocha pot? How to make Australian white coffee in a mocha pot? How to make mocha pot milk coffee the strongest?
- How long is the best time to brew hand-brewed coffee? What should I do after 2 minutes of making coffee by hand and not filtering it? How long is it normal to brew coffee by hand?
- 30 years ago, public toilets were renovated into coffee shops?! Multiple responses: The store will not open
- Well-known tea brands have been exposed to the closure of many stores?!
- Cold Brew, Iced Drip, Iced Americano, Iced Japanese Coffee: Do You Really Understand the Difference?
- Differences Between Cold Drip and Cold Brew Coffee: Cold Drip vs Americano, and Iced Coffee Varieties Introduction
- Cold Brew Coffee Preparation Methods, Extraction Ratios, Flavor Characteristics, and Coffee Bean Recommendations
- The Unique Characteristics of Cold Brew Coffee Flavor Is Cold Brew Better Than Hot Coffee What Are the Differences
- The Difference Between Cold Drip and Cold Brew Coffee Is Cold Drip True Black Coffee