MONTHLY SPECIAL - Rwanda, Coproca Natural, Nyamasheke

Every month, our resident Q Grader and third-generation Wogan, James, searches the world to find a coffee that is ‘weird and wonderful’, and truly excites. A micro-lot, a great back-story, an impressive cooperative, or a particularly unusual taste; once it's gone, it's gone.

We keep the prices of these extraordinary coffees down, so that you have the chance to try something that you might not be able to get your hands on otherwise. 

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Discover an exceptional Red Bourbon lot from the Coproca Washing Station, nestled in the breathtaking highlands of Rwanda’s Western Province. Grown by a dedicated network of smallholder farmers, this coffee represents the very best of Nyamasheke District’s renowned terroir.

The Origin Story

Region: Kanjongo Sector, Nyamasheke, Western Province, Rwanda

Altitude: 1,830 – 1,950 meters above sea level

Variety: Red Bourbon

Owner: C. Dorman Rwanda

The Coproca station aggregates coffee from 603 passionate smallholder farmers cultivating high-altitude slopes. The unique microclimate and rich soil of the region produce an annual harvest of 800 to 900 metric tons of pristine coffee cherries.

Meticulous Natural Processing

Quality control is at the heart of the Coproca station. This lot undergoes a highly precise Natural Process, demanding immense labour and patience:

Strict Sorting: Only the finest, perfectly ripe red cherries are selected upon arrival.

Flotation Selection: Cherries are floated in water tanks to remove low-density floaters, ensuring only the densest, most flavour-packed cherries move forward.

Sun-Drying: The coffee is dried slowly on flat tables topped with close-knit wire mesh and shade nets.

Careful Handing: To protect the delicate beans from cell damage during peak midday heat, workers heap the cherries together. They are turned meticulously every 30 to 40 minutes over a 35 to 40-day period until reaching an optimal 11.5% moisture content.

Sustainability & Community Impact

Choosing this coffee directly supports a thriving, forward-thinking farming community. The Coproca Washing Station is Rainforest Alliance (RFA) and C.A.F.E. Practices certified, actively investing in both the people and the land:

Social Good: The station has generated 80 seasonal jobs and fully renovated the local Ruheru primary and nursery school.

Farmer Education: Through Farmer Field Schools, local growers receive vital training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), ecosystem conservation, wildlife protection, and water management.

Investing in the Future: Coproca distributes free inputs like fertilisers and is currently preparing a massive nursery of 80,000 coffee seedlings and 5,000 shade trees to hand out to farmers, securing sustainable production for generations to come.