About This Coffee
In 2003, 28 farmers in Muhororo region decided to form a cooperative to increase coffee production and bolster their income. That initial group was composed of 22 women and 6 men. The district authorities granted them 30 hectares in the region and the group allocated plots to each member.
In 2004, the group became legally registered as Kopiguka cooperative. In 2012, they constructed a mini washing station to process coffee. The cooperative filled a market gap by collecting and processing coffee in the region, where there were no other washing stations.
Unfortunately, due to poor management and external factors like the market, the cooperative was unable to remain profitable and in 2018, they began working with Tropic Coffee, who now manages and operates the station. The cooperative remains in charge of the farm operations on the land granted to them by the district. Their collaboration is proving profitable and helping members pay for their health insurance, school fees and more.
Some of our lots from Kabyiniro station can be traced directly to the hill where the farmers cultivated that coffee, such as Karambo, Kazirabageni and Kageyo.
Cultivation
The region has a high annual rainfall that’s ideal for coffee cultivation. The annual temperature ranges from 16 to 21 degrees Celsius, creating the warm days and cool nights that help promote sweet, dense cherry growth.
Harvest & Post-Harvest
Cherry is selectively handpicked by farmers and, during peak season, hired hands. Farmers bring cherry directly to the washing station. At intake, cherry is floated to remove any under or overripes. Cherry is laid on raised beds to dry and raked frequently to ensure even drying. It takes approximately 30 days for cherry to dry.
Coffee in Rwanda
Despite its turbulent history, today Rwanda is one of the specialty coffee world’s darlings – for good reason! Our sister company in Rwanda does an amazing job of bringing the best that Rwanda has to offer to roasters around the world.
German missionaries and settlers brought coffee to Rwanda in the early 1900s. Largescale coffee production was established during the 1930 & 1940s by the Belgian colonial government. Coffee production continued after the Belgian colonists left. By 1970, coffee had become the single largest export in Rwanda and accounted for 70% of total export revenue. Coffee was considered so valuable that, beginning in 1973, it was illegal to tear coffee trees out of the ground.
Between 1989 and 1993, the breakdown of the International Coffee Agreement (ICA) caused the global price to plummet. The Rwandan government and economy took a hard hit from low global coffee prices. The 1994 genocide and its aftermath led to a complete collapse of coffee exports and vital USD revenue, but the incredible resilience of the Rwandan people is evident in the way the economy and stability have recovered since then.
Modern Rwanda is considered one of the most stable countries in the region. Since 2003, its economy has grown by 7-8% per year and coffee production has played a key role in this economic growth. Coffee has also played a role in Rwanda's significant advancements towards gender equality. New initiatives that cater to women and focus on helping them equip themselves with the tools and knowledge for farming have been changing the way women view themselves and interact with the world around them.
Today, smallholders propel the industry in Rwanda forward. The country doesn’t have any large estates. Most coffee is grown by the 400,000+ smallholders, who own less than a quarter of a hectare. The majority of Rwanda’s coffee production is Arabica. Bourbon variety plants comprise 95% of all coffee trees cultivated in Rwanda.