Pomegranate and rose, white grape sweetness.
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This elegant and layered coffee comes to us from the Kageyo Washing Station — a privately-held washing station located in the remote hills of the Ngororero district in western Rwanda.
Established in 2009 by a farmers co-operative, backed by a bank loan, Kageyo rose to prominence by placing second and then first in the Cup of Excellence — a national competition that awards coffee producers for cup quality.
Unfortunately, subsequent years were more challenging with a limited production capacity and low prices meaning the co-operative had trouble servicing the loan and paying their farmers. In 2013, Kageyo partnered with Rwanda Trading Company to provide additional funding, allowing for increased production and access to electricity, equipment, and a wider market for their coffee. In 2015, RTC acquired the washing station in its entirety.
Though now privately-owned, at Kageyo the co-operative structure remains in place. Ripe coffee cherries are delivered from local smallholder farmers who grow their coffee in the fertile highlands, while other food crops are grown at lower altitudes. Processing is done on a Penagos Eco-pulper, though we understand that there are still production bottlenecks that limit the station’s potential, and fundraising for infrastructure development continues.
While we’ve purchased coffee from western Rwanda for many years, working mainly with the Gitesi Washing Station in Karongi, this is the first time we’ve purchased coffee from the Ngororero district. Here, coffee is grown at up to 2,000 metres elevation, making it some of the highest altitude coffee in Rwanda — a factor that typically creates warm days and cold nights, suggesting a slower ripening period and a more concentrated, structured cup profile.
We were delighted to have been introduced to this layered and intriguing coffee, and hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
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Origin
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Ngororero, Rwanda
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Producer
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Rwanda Trading Company
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Variety
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Red bourbon
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Process
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Washed
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Harvest
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April - May, 2021
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