About This Coffee
This coffee is produced by smallholders working with Tumaini Coffee Cooperative (TCC). The cooperative, founded in 2015, is focused on empowering women through coffee cultivation. Women and youth are involved in creating and governing Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA) that empower farmers to save and borrow money for basic needs, agricultural improvements and more.
Cultivation
TCC provides training in Good Agricultural Practices. They also provide technical agronomic support and work with microfinance institutions to support farmers with financing. TCC is working to achieve Fair Trade certification.
Harvest & Post-Harvest
Coffee is selectively handpicked and processed on individual farms. Ripe, red cherry is pulped and fermented. Following fermentation, parchment is washed in clean water and then laid on raised beds and patios to dry. Producers rake parchment frequently to ensure even drying. It takes approximately 14 to 21 days for parchment to dry.
Coffee in Democratic Republic of Congo
Coffee once played a huge part in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) economy. Eastern DRC was called “a paradise for coffee.” Unfortunately, the country’s dark colonial history followed by waves of political turmoil limited prosperity in the coffee sector. Today, coffee’s making a comeback as a number of private and public sector actors invest in the country. We believe DRC is a country to watch as it continues to build the infrastructure and knowledge needed for specialty coffee production.