VYIZA

The Vyiza WS is located at 1800masl in Ngozi Province, northern Burundi. The is more than just a washing station, it is a collective effort, a community, and a symbol of resilience. The name Vyiza, meaning “good things” in Kirundi, reflects the spirit of the farmers and the quality of the coffee they produce. This decentralised model is typical in Burundi and broadly to East Africa, where coffee farming is deeply rooted in family tradition and community collaboration, this combined with the terroir characteristics are key factors to the region’s renowned cup profiles. The coffee grown here is primarily Bourbon, like in neighboring Rwanda, and the harvest runs from March to June. Vyiza specialises in the natural process, where cherries are floated to remove defects and then spread thinly on raised African drying beds. Over the course of 20 to 30 days, depending on the weather, the cherries are sundried slowly in the open air, allowing natural fermentation to enhance the coffee’s flavour profile.

The farmers fertiliser use is minimal due to cost constraints, and most farmers rely on the natural fertility of the land, which is rich in yellow latosol soils and supplement the soil with mulching practices and manure. Environmental stewardship is evident in the use of “caixas secas”— engineered roadside reservoirs that capture rain water and reduce erosion along with the preservation of legal reserves to protect local biodiversity. The story of Vyiza is deeply personal for many involved. For Eduardo Zanotti Guerra, the agronomist and farmer behind the initiative, coffee is a legacy passed down through generations. His journey began with his father on a small estate in Espírito Santo, Brazil, and has evolved into a mission to support smallholder farmers in Burundi through sustainable practices and quality-focused production.