Democratic Republic of Congo

Changwe Fully Washed

This well-rounded Fully washed coffee is produced at Changwe washing station. The nutrient-rich volcanic soil of the South Kivu region, combined with careful quality control at the station, produce a floral and fruity cup with a lively acidity.

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Details

Coffee Grade:: South Kivu FW

Farm/Coop/Station:: Changwe Washing Station

Varietal:: Bourbon

Processing:: Fully washed

Altitude:: 1,600 meters above sea level

Owner:: 490+ farmers delivering to Changwe station

Subregion/Town:: Various

Region:: South Kivu

Harvest Months:: April - July

About This Coffee

Jean Pierre Muongo built Changwe washing station in 2019 with help from USAID and RWACOF (Sucafina in Rwanda). The station began operation in the 2019/2020 season, when they produced both Fully washed and Natural coffees.

Cultivation

South Kivu has nutrient-rich volcanic soil and ideal climatic conditions for growing Arabica coffee.

Harvest & Post-Harvest

After selectively handpicking cherry, farmers deliver their harvest to Changwe station. Cherry is sorted at intake and then pulped. Coffee fermented for 9 to 24 hours before being washed in clean water and laid 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.