Rwanda Rushashi

Abakundakawa Rushashi began as an association of 103 members in 1999, today it is a well-organized cooperative with over 2100 farmers. Rushashi village has been a cornerstone of our partner This Side Up’s coffee-importing history, having been transparently promoting their coffee since 2013. Nowadays, the community utilises innovative water & energy-saving processing techniques, has two women’s empowerment organisations and invests in financial independence through urban banks.

We managed to get our hands on both the natural and washed versions of this coffee (the latter will be available to purchase soon). Both versions have the rich, fruity sweetness characteristic of East African coffees. This Natural has a fuller, syrupy body with strong notes of cacao. It has a mandarin-like fruitiness but a stickier, more syrupy mouthfeel which reminds us of sodas like Cola and Fanta (as a comparison, the washed variant is fruitier, cleaner, and boasts a richer acidity). This coffee is as delicious as filter and espresso.

We highly recommend this coffee to those new to light-roasted coffee, seeing as the acidity is tempered by the fuller, cacao-creamy body which may be familiar from medium-roasted coffees you have tasted before.

Region: Rutabo, Gakenke

Variety: Various Bourbon types

Processing: Natural

Growing altitude: 1700-2000m

Direct Trade via This Side Up