Rwanda Intango - Coffee of the month

We've got another fantastic coffee of the month to share with our subscribers starting from the 3rd of August. We bought this coffee directly from Intango and we are pleased to be able to offer this exclusively to our coffee of the month subscribers. 

We first met Gilbert, owner of Intago washing station, back in 2015 during our first visit to Rwanda. He was very involved in the export of coffee from several washing stations and we spent some time with him visiting producers that we'd already bought coffee from.

Fast forward a few years and he now owns his own washing station with his friend Gervais. The washing station is located in the Gishyita sector close to Lake Kivu, an area we have spent a lot of time visiting over the years. 

Gilbert and Gervais bought the washing station with the intention of restoring it to produce high scoring washed and natural processed coffees. It was once part of a cup of excellence winning co-operative which sadly dissolved leaving the washing station uncared for.

Varietal –  Red Bourbon
Preparation – Washed
Location – Gishyita sector, western Rwanda close to Lake Kivu
Altitude – 1500-1900 masl
Importer - Horsham Coffee Roaster

Farm Overview

Almost all coffee produced in Rwanda comes from small-hold farmers. Gilbert and Gervais own the washing station which is responsible for processing the coffee delivered by local coffee farmers. They work with around 400 small-hold farmers who grown Red Bourbon varietals know for producing coffee of very high quality. Coffee is typically grown on farms as one of several crops.

Red Bourbon coffee tree:

Harvesting and Processing:

Coffee is hand-harvested and delivered on the same day to the washing station.

Hand harvesting coffee on a small hold farm in Rwanda:

Farmers are paid a fixed price on delivery and then if the harvest goes well with good prices paid a bonus payment is usually made later on in the year. After delivery coffee is floated to removed defects, pulped and fermented in tanks. After fermentation, the coffee is washed and graded and moved to raised drying tables.

Once dried to a moisture content of around 11% the coffee is stored and prepared for milling and export.

Tasting Notes:

This is a great example of a clean, juicy, sweet washed coffee from Rwanda. You can expect a lovely caramel like sweetness with red berries notes, golden raisin and a chocolate like body.