About This Coffee
Located in the northern part of Rwanda, this co-op has been registered by the Rwanda Cooperative Agency (RCA) since 2004. Its members grow coffee trees at high altitudes in the hills, making for an incredible cup.
Abakundakawa Rushashi was the first co-op to promote women in Rwanda's value chain through the Hinga Kawa women's association. In addition, the co-op strives for coffee quality and the social well-being of its farmers: Its coffee washing station is Fairtrade certified, and it was the first Rwandan co-op to apply for Organic certification.
This coffee comes from the "Ishema" group - Ishema means "Pride" in native Rwandan - a group of 400 young men and women associates of the Abakundakawa, who look to produce high-quality coffee, reducing rural migration of young people by creating jobs and to promoting family succession planning in the coffee sector.
Cultivation
In Rwanda's Gakenke district, the Abakundakawa cooperative farmers meticulously select fully ripened cherries from the volcanic slopes. The region's unique microclimate, high altitude, and fertile volcanic soils yield a coffee with a harmonious blend of sweet, floral, and fruity flavors. Abakundakawa has experienced significant growth, establishing a second washing station and increasing its membership from 180 to almost 2,110 coffee growers since its inception.
Harvest & Post-Harvest
They utilize raised beds for drying their coffee, allowing for optimal air circulation and even drying. With a drying time range of 140 hours, they carefully monitor and adjust the process to ensure consistent quality. The cooperative also boasts a dedicated quality control lab, where their coffee undergoes meticulous testing and evaluation.
Sustainable Harvest
Sustainable Harvest® is a specialty coffee trader focusing primarily on bringing coffees to market that are sourced from smallholder farmer cooperatives in the supply chain such as indigenous communities, women groups and the next generation of coffee farmers.
Their sourcing model is built on transparency, traceability and direct relationships between quality-minded coffee roasters and best-in-class coffee producers. Sustainable Harvest® has an on-site presence at origin with staff in Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Peru. Each office coordinates their supply including quality management, supplier relationships, source development, logistics, training and capacity building.
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.