KININI SERIES 02 - RWANDA

WASHING STATION: Kinini, Rulindo

PROCESS: Natural

VARIETIES: Bourbon 

ALTITUDE: 2000 MASL

NOTES: Dried cranberries, stewed blueberries, malt loaf

One of our favourite times of the year here at the roastery- our Rwandan lots from the Kinini washing station have landed!

This year we've purchased four coffees, processed four different ways, and thought it would be fun to present them as part of 'The Kinini Series'. 02 is the return of the ever delicious natural lot- the coffee that really made us fall in love with Kinini three years ago. We're tasting loads of sweet acidity reminding us of dried cranberries, and a lovely concentrated berry note- think stewed blueberries. Add in brown sugar, a hint of baking spice, and layers of raisin-y sweetness and you've got yourself our old pal soreen (malt loaf!). Super clean as always, super moreish, super duper!

If we're honest, it's not even the incredible quality of this coffee that captures our imagination- it's the story. Kinini Coffee was started by Jaqueline Turner. She first set up the charity A New Beginning in Rwanda in 2008. The charity helped a group of widows and orphans displaced during the genocide in 1994, who were resettled in an area of uncultivated savannah. Jacquie then started growing coffee in 2012 to provide a sustainable revenue stream for the charity. Within years they were producing some of the best coffee in Rwanda. 10% of funds Kinini receive for the sale of their coffee go to supporting a health centre and school.

FROM OUR IMPORTER - DRWakefield

85% of the growers that make up Cooperative Coffee Rusiga Sector (KCRS), have their farms above 2000masl. An incredibly diverse crop production happens on these smallholder plots, legumes, beans, sweet potatoes and more can be grown in between the coffee trees. This allows income to be spread over the year as well as producing food for their own consumption. Typically, you’ll find very small family plots cultivating an average of 6 crops. This coffee is produced by women farmers. There are some male members of the families but the women took over ownership and charge of the land. The support that a smallholder farmer often relies on has found to flourish under this structure and it is often now used as a methodology to help improve the coffee on a farm if an individual is struggling. We source the coffee through Kinini and Jacquie has been active in helping them to organise themselves since some of the women supplied coffee to them. As Jacquie herself says, “A few of them asked me for advice if I could help them form a cooperative and get training from us. We then made changes behind the scenes, got the paperwork in place after few days the cooperative was registered. They then made 12 groups depending on which village is near to them making training and travelling easy.”

To get the best from your coffee please take a look at our brew guides HERE

ALL PACKAGING IS CARBON NEUTRAL AND WIDELY RECYCLABLE