RWANDA - BALIZA HILL

Farm: 69 Smallholder farmers- Ruli 

Varietal: Red Bourbon 

Processing: Washed 

Altitude: 1990

Owner: Musasa Dukunde Kawa Cooperative 

Town: Ruli

Region: Ruli Sector, Gakenke District of Northern Province 

The Musasa Dukunde Kawa cooperative has four washing stations lying high in Rwanda's rugged northwest. Ruli - the cooperatives first washing station, was built by the co-op in 2003 with a development loan from the Rwandan government, and the support of the USAID financed PEARL project. Constructed at a vertiginous 1,999 metres above sea level, it is one of Rwanda's highest washing stations.

The transformational PEARL programme of which it was a part, switched the focus in the Rwandan coffee sector from an historic emphasis on quantity, to one of quality, thus opening Rwanda up to a much more highly valued speciality coffee market. 

This lot comes from Baliza, located in the Ruli sector of Gakenke district, it is home to the cooperatives headquarters and represents the majority of cooperative production. The producers from this area have undergone years of specialised training in speciality coffee farming, enabling them to consistently deliver high quality coffee. The coffee farms are situated at elevations ranging from 1,850 to 2,002 metres, offering the ideal conditions for cultivating premium coffee. Each tree yields an average of 3 to 3.5 kgs of cherries annually, reflecting the care and expertise of the farmers.

This special lot was contributed by 69 dedicated coffee producers, ensuring a focused, hands-on approach to quality and consistency. We exclusively process coffee from this profiled production area, to ensure a highly curated coffee experience, ideal for single origin lovers seeking a refined, nuanced cup. This offers a smoother, more rounded flavour, with deeper chocolate undertones, while maintaining the bright fruitiness that Rwandan coffees are renowned for.