Coffee of the month

The model of a cooperative where the quality of life is really improved by standing together. Dukunde Kawa Musasa cooperative is huge with over 1,100 farmers and projects aimed at women's independence and income. Good taste in the cup and body. Fresh, delicious coffee from Rwanda grown with the traditional red Bourbon bean. Works well in a plunger pot and filter brew. Espresso - probably mostly for those who really like acidity

Tasting notes: Apricot, caramel, citrus
Indicators: Degree of roast 2/5 – Acidity 3/5 – Sweetness 3/5
Process: Washed
Producer: Dukunde Kawa Musasa Coop
Region/Territory: Gakenke, Province du Nord, Rwanda

Dukunde Kawa Musasa cooperative. Founded in 2004 in Musasa, at an altitude of over 2,000 meters, it brings together over 1,100 farmers. In this cooperative, the water used to wash the coffee is recycled. The cooperative encourages farmers to recultivate their plots and plant shade trees. When a farmer leaves the cooperative with a coffee plant, he also gets a shade tree.

The cooperative has established a financial support system with the creation of a "Farmer's savings account" which gives the opportunity to take out a smaller, low-interest loan in the cooperative.

Dunkunde Kawa is also behind the "Musasa Milk" project, which helps to diversify farmers' income by giving them a cow. The cow is used to fertilize the fields, but also to sell milk to the cooperative, which processes it into yogurt and other dairy products for the local market.

The Mbilima washing station belongs to the Dukunde Kawa Musasa cooperative and was established in 2005. Dedicated to certified organic coffee. It was created to help local farmers in the village of Akanduga, nicknamed Rubyiniro.

The station is 2020 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest in Rwanda, and works with 900 farmers over an area of ​​70 hectares.
Mbilima employs 120 seasonal workers, 95% of whom are women.

Most coffee farmers carry their harvest on their heads, and only a few use bicycles. Farmers bring their harvest to collectors in neighboring villages, who then transport the coffee by motorbike within 8 hours of harvest.
Annual coffee production varies between 450 and 650 tonnes each year.

At Mbilima, the coffee is sorted and then mechanically pulped before being dried in one of the station's 120 drying areas. Depending on the type of process and weather conditions, the drying time varies from 25 to 60 days.

The Northern Province of Rwanda is a large coffee producing region where many washing stations have been established. The area counts several thousand producers who each own their own land. The northern province, with its lakes and mountains, is a perfect environment for growing excellent coffee. It is located at an altitude of over 1,600 meters, which is ideal for coffee trees.