Introduction to Rwandan Coffee, Rwandan Coffee Growing Regions, Characteristics of Rwandan Coffee Beans

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FrontStreet Coffee - Introduction to Rwandan Coffee

Rwanda: This small East African country should not be overlooked by roasters and coffee enthusiasts. 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 origin.

The reason many love Rwandan coffee is its syrupy, rich mouthfeel. This sweet, full-bodied characteristic is partly attributed to the coffee varieties: most Rwandan coffee beans are either Bourbon or Bourbon derivatives.

However, in Rwanda, you'll find various coffee flavors: cherry, grape, lemon, chocolate, cantaloupe, orange, nectarine, candy, apricot, plum, and more. Beyond the clean, refreshing, citrus acidity, date is also one of the characteristic flavors of Rwandan coffee.

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

Most of the country's coffee comes from the southern and western regions, but there are actually five distinct growing areas. In the northwest, there's the Virunga region of the volcanic zone (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 (1,300m). Last but not least is the eastern Muhazi region.

Of course, all these coffee regions are different. However, the national growing areas generally feature high altitudes and nitrogen-rich volcanic soil. These create excellent conditions for producing high-quality coffee beans.

In Summary

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