What are the Flavors of Rwandan Coffee - Introduction to Rwandan Twumba Coffee Washing Station

Rwanda's Coffee Paradise

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Rwanda has always been blessed with excellent coffee growing conditions: high altitude, volcanic soil, abundant sunshine, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Since many coffee trees are planted on mountains between 1,700 and 2,000 meters above sea level, Rwanda is also known as the "Land of a Thousand Hills." Rwandan coffee offers a world-class experience—more balanced than Kenyan coffee yet clearly comparable to Central American coffee. Generally, Rwandan coffee carries the fresh sweetness of fruit, the delicate fragrance of flowers, and a black tea-like aftertaste. Coffee production models often depend on the producing country, but Rwandan coffee is entirely produced by small farmers rather than large-scale enterprises. Compared to Brazilian farms, where even small ones reach twenty hectares, Rwanda's 0.1-0.2 hectares are truly insignificant.

Here, farmers first pick coffee beans by hand from coffee trees, then send them to processing tables where barefoot, singing farmers crush them together. These coffees are both sweet, with clear lemon flavors, and subtly reveal berry and chocolate notes.

For these developing countries, when specialty coffee gains attention and demand increases, coffee naturally becomes one of the main directions for national development, seeking continuous progress and recognition from the international market.

After coffee beans are separated from the fruit, coffee farmers use rakes and water to classify the beans one by one, followed by sun-drying. Since coffee beans are sensitive to air humidity, whenever a breeze suddenly blows through, farmers promptly cover them with tarps.

Twumba Coffee Washing Station

The Twumba Coffee Washing Station is located in Nyaruyaga Village, Gitabura Cell, Twumba Sector, Karongi District, Western Province of Rwanda. The area features a relief characterized by high mountains and very steep slopes, flowing into valleys and adjacent to the Nyungwe National Forest. The altitude ranges from 1,800 to 2,200 meters above sea level, with an average annual temperature of 18°C, varying with altitude.

In 2014, when the owner of Twumba Coffee visited farmers in this region and was inspired by observing the beautiful coffee cultivation, he had brief meetings with farmers from surrounding areas. He noted that the region's coffee washing station was far from their agricultural activities. The CWS owner decided to establish a coffee washing station to support these agricultural communities, with the main purpose of facilitating their collective coffee collection and improving agricultural systems, then connecting them to markets (since there was no favorable market for coffee cherries without washing stations in the region).

The coffee varieties grown in this region are Arabica coffee, processed using clean water from natural springs in the Nyungwe Forest, and dried on raised drying tables under good conditions before being stored properly. Sometimes coffee cherries from single farms with high production and quality potential are tracked and consciously separated from other coffees and sold as micro-lots.

Women's Coffee

Due to the fact that women are mainly involved throughout the entire value chain, coffee processed in these regions is also known as "Women's Coffee." Of the collected coffee, 60% is provided by women, 50% of women are female-owned, and in CWS processing, 90% of the employees are women.

Women sorting and grading coffee at the coffee washing station premises.

As a member of the Women's Coffee Alliance and partner of Twumba Coffee, Tropic Coffee Company's mission is to ensure women are empowered in coffee communities to achieve sustainable livelihoods and to recognize women's participation in the coffee value chain.

With Tropic Coffee Company's support, we ensure coffee quality is controlled from farm level, and all farmers know that coffee cherries are harvested when fully ripe (red), and once they reach the coffee washing station, they are sorted to ensure high-quality processed cherries.

After the coffee washing station was established, producers and coffee farmers who supply coffee cherries and/or work at the coffee washing station have greatly benefited from their income contributing to their livelihoods, providing education and insurance for their children. Their entire families and small businesses also support their agriculture.

Coffee Specifications

Grade: 1

Score: 90.53

Farm: TWUMBA Coffee

Farmer/Representative: YANDAGIYE Marthe

Altitude: 1,800-2,200m

Country: RWANDA

Year: 2018

Region: KARONGI

District: TWUMBA

Processing System: Washed

Variety: 100% Bourbon Arabica Coffee

TWUMBA COFFEE LOT: 1

Village: NYARUYAGA

Cell: GITABURA

Sector: TWUMBA Region

Brewing Recommendations

FrontStreet Coffee recommends brewing with 90-91°C water for about two minutes. It has flavors of cherry, grape, and lime.

FrontStreet Coffee: A roastery in Guangzhou with a small shop but diverse bean varieties, 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