Lines

Rwanda

This coffee combines the bright acidity of Kenyas, the juicy florals of Ethiopias and the mouthfeel of Central Americas. Straight to your roastery from Washing Stations owned by nationals, not multinationals.

Coffee production in Rwanda went through a radical change in the last 30 years. Yes, the sector is still dominated by large multinational traders who own their own wet mills. But the specialty coffee boom made room for locals to build their own washing stations and get export licenses. They come from coffee families and are active members of their communities. You’ll find their coffees here.

Verified Sellers from

Rwanda

Discover the right supplier for your roastery, from innovative farmers and independent exporters to certified cooperatives. Volume lots, micro-lots, blends or single varieties... You'll find what you're looking for.

Read More
Profile Picture

Gasharu Coffee

Washing station, Mill, Exporter

The story of Gasharu Coffee goes back to 1976 when 17 years-old Celestin Rumenerangabo, my father, planted his first coffee trees in Nyamasheke. A farmer and buyer of cherries, he grew the business to what it is today. We now have 2 washing stations, Gasharu and Muhororo, and can export beans from nearly 1650 farmers directly. Over the last 43 years, we’ve maintained an unwavering dedication to making the highest-quality coffee we can. Coffee has been critical to rebuilding our community after the 1994 Tutsi Genocide and it remains an important part of our culture and ways. With local businesses being taken over by large multinational companies, we are aware that we have to make Gasharu Coffee more resilient. We have improved our sourcing and processing methods, encouraging curiosity about innovative ideas to take coffee to the next level, producing naturals, honeys and experiments. Our coffee grows at an altitude of 1580-2100 masl and has proven to yield a fine and flavoursome cup.

Profile Picture

Baho Coffee

Washing station, Exporter
Rainforest Alliance

Hello, my friend. My name is Emma and I manage Baho Coffee, an exporting company with 7 washing stations in Rwanda. I am Rwandese from the Kayonza district and have 15 years of experience in coffee, having worked for foreign companies before founding Baho in 2016. Baho means “stay strong”. It is something we say to comfort people who are struggling. It has a lot to do with my personal journey. I barely survived the year of 1994 and grew up to become a man without my parents whilst supporting my siblings. My philosophy at Baho is that the farmers are the bosses, the foundation of my work. My business relies on their happiness. I want to help change their lives as I changed mine. That is why my aim is to support farmers with education and getting better prices. My 3 pillars are culture, people and coffee. Our culture shapes us. People are the ones who make it happen. Coffee is the bridge. A good cup of coffee can help us understand each other. Come and drink a cup of coffee with me!

Profile Picture

JERIKA COFFEE

Single Farm
Rainforest Alliance

Jerika, a coffee exporting company, based in Rwanda, founded in 2018 by a young entrepreneur; Jean Luc Rwamasirabo. We export raw material known as “green coffee” around the world. We produce green coffee from two washing stations; one based in Gicumbi district and another in Gatsibo district

Profile Picture

Nyamurinda Coffee Growers Ltd

Single Farm
FairTrade, FairTrade, Rainforest Alliance

Francine and Immaculee are two sisters that decided to return to their family home and start a coffee farm, a few years after losing their whole family in the genocide in Rwanda. When their first harvest came, they decided that their next step was to build a washing station of their own. So they moved from planting to harvesting, to processing. Now they do not only produce and process their own coffee but also buy coffee cherries from neighbouring farms, especially those run by women. The two sisters, Francine and Immaculee, didn’t want to become a burden as survivors on the government and decided to go back to their native region to work hard and empower themselves as they empower their community. Before the genocide against Tutsi, their parents owned a hill called Nyamurinda, which is larger than 20 hectares. This is the place where the farm and coffee-washing station are located and from where the name of Nyamurinda Mountain Coffee was originated

Profile Picture

CAFERWA

Washing station, Trader, Mill, Exporter
FairTrade, Organic

CAFERWA Ltd is a coffee exporting company which started its operation in 1995 with the goal of exporting coffee to different parts of the world. Our coffees are special, grown on volcanic soils on the shores of Lake Kivu, within an altitude of 1450 m -1800 m and an average rainfall of 1250mm. We own 5 washing stations that can produce an average of up to 200 MT (metric tons) of parchment each. Nkora, in Gisenyi, is the biggest washing station in Rwanda and can produce up 500 tons of parchment coffee per season. The others are Cyebumba, Kigeme, Shangi (Western Province) and Buliza (Northern Province). We nurture relationships with our farmers and adopt fair practices to ensure that they are involved in every part of the process. Most of our staff are women, many of whom are survivors of the 1994 genocide. We provide healthcare and education and empower communities to grow strong with thriving businesses whilst offering safe, healthy working conditions and sustainable farming methods.

Profile Picture

Kumbya Coffee Farm

Single Farm

Kumbya Coffee Farm, located near Lake Kivu in Rwanda's Nyamasheke District, holds significant potential for producing high-quality coffee. The unique geographical and climatic conditions of this region contribute to the farm's exceptional coffee production capabilities. Situated at high altitudes, Kumbya Coffee Farm benefits from a temperate climate with abundant rainfall, fertile volcanic soil, and a unique microclimate influenced by Lake Kivu. These factors create an ideal environment for cultivating coffee plants, particularly the Arabica variety, known for its superior flavor and aroma. Rwanda, often referred to as the "land of a thousand hills," has a rich coffee-growing tradition. The country's commitment to quality coffee production is evident in its rigorous quality control processes and the emphasis on sustainable farming practices. Kumbya Coffee Farm aligns with these national standards, ensuring that its coffee beans are of the highest quality. The proximity to Lake Kivu not only enhances the microclimate but also provides a unique terroir that imparts distinctive flavor profiles to the coffee. Coffee from Kumbya often exhibits bright acidity, fruity and floral notes, and a well-balanced body. These characteristics make it highly sought after by specialty coffee roasters and connoisseurs worldwide. Additionally, the farm's location in the Nyamasheke District, a region with a burgeoning coffee tourism industry, presents opportunities for direct trade relationships and coffee tourism.

Profile Picture

COOPAC LTD

Single Farm, Washing station, Mill, Exporter
FairTrade, FairTrade, Organic, Organic

Gishamwana Island is located in the middle of Lake Kivu in Rwanda, with more than 28,000 coffee trees are planted dried and milled here as well, completing the production cycle. The island is biodiverse, with cows, goats, and even an albino rabbit coexists with the coffee trees. This island coffee farm is privately owned by Emmanuel Rwakagara, the founder of COOPAC, and the coffee is grown organically amongst forestry that provides a level of shade much greater than is typical for African coffee. Also, by nature of Gishamwana's isolation from other coffee, many diseases and pests quite simply have not made the boat ride over. Gishamwana coffee is the epitome of Rwandan coffee.  It has the chocolate, caramel, sweet, cherry tobacco, raisin, fig, berry, and orange notes with a zippy acidity, medium body, and no earthiness.  The sweet spot on this coffee is just before the 2nd cracks in order to balance the acidity with sweetness and complexity.   First Winner Cup of Excellence 2010 with a score of 90.16 point.

The history of coffee production in Rwanda can be split into two moments. Pre and post-1994, when the genocide happened. What’s changed, you might be wondering? The people behind the Washing Stations changed. While large companies still run the show, small local companies appeared to own the trading space for the first time. 

workers in rwanda sorting through coffee beans with mountain backgrop

Unity through coffee

Coffee came to Rwanda’s Western Province, by Lake Kivu, in the late 1800s by German missionaries. It became the main cash crop but was sold mainly unwashed, as a commodity. By the 1970s, coffee was so important that cutting down trees was illegal.

Back then, the International Coffee Agreement (ICA) kept prices stable. When it collapsed in 1989, things changed. Prices sank, the economy shattered, and farmers got desperate. The ethnical conflict between Hutus and Tutsis was the match that lit the fire - but the wood was already stacked. <<photo>>

The coffee sector collapsed with the rest of the economy in 1994. Political stability returned in the late 1990s and the Rwanda Coffee Strategy was launched in 2001 to promote the production of high-quality Arabica. The government started to invest in coffee, bringing specialists from Kenya and Burundi to train locals on harvesting and processing practices. 

hand of male sorting coffee beans in pan in rwanda

Everyone born in Rwanda who exports coffee today has some personal experience of the genocide. They also grew up at a moment when coffee became a symbol of unity and economic recovery in the country. That’s one of the reasons why they’re so committed to quality and to their communities. 

None of the other companies in our zones are owned by people that live in the community. Coffee for us goes beyond just beans. It is a reason for people to spend time together. It allows families to go out for a meal after being paid and to buy clothes for the family. These are values that outsiders don’t always understand or care about but that add to our quality of life and the social cohesion of the community.

VALENTIN KIMENYI | Gasharu Coffee

Quality and community values

Specialty coffee was Rwanda’s way out of a crisis because the country is small - you can fit 42 Rwandas inside Ethiopia - and can’t compete with its neighbours in volume. At first, top-grade Fully Washed coffees were the focus. Large companies got very good at it. The newer, smaller wet mills had to differentiate. They became very good at Naturals, Anaerobics, and other alternative processing methods.  

smilinglady working amongst coffee beans inrural rwanda in the sun

Some of these new faces in Rwanda’s coffee sector started exporting directly to roasters through Algrano in 2020. Their Fully Washed lots are clean and fruity, and their Naturals and Anaerobics quickly became favourites. With clear notes of tropical fruits and berries and a full body, they’re perfect for espresso and milk-based drinks.

They source cherries from farm groups from districts like Rulindo and Gakenke in the North, Nyamagabe and Nyaruguru in the South, Gatsibo in the East and Nyamagabe and Nyaruguru in the West. These Washing Stations represent their land of many lakes and a thousand hills with authenticity and passion, supporting smallholders through strong bonds and community projects.

Found a coffee you love?

Know the producer already? Algrano makes direct trade simple.

How the end of the zoning law is affecting Rwanda's  coffee harvest

How the end of the zoning law is affecting Rwanda's  coffee harvest

May 22, 2024
Luiza Pereira Furquim

Fresh samples from Rwanda are on the way. They will be available between the end of May and early June, as the country’s harvest moves to its final stage.

Read more
The magic behind Gasharu’s coffee

The magic behind Gasharu’s coffee

June 24, 2020
Luiza Pereira Furquim
Read more
Baho Coffee: The boy who ate the dog

Baho Coffee: The boy who ate the dog

June 30, 2020
Mafer García Spiegeler
Read more