Elie Nzabakunda (Rwanda)

Situated high in Rwanda’s rugged northwest, Ruli is the first and highest washing station to be built by the Musasa Dukunde Kawa cooperative. The co-op has transformed the lives of the coffee farmers in the region, providing the chance to combine their harvests and process them centrally. In reference to the power coffee has to positively impact the lives of these rural communities, ‘Musasa’ means ‘a place to stay’ and ’Dukunde Kawa’ translates to ‘let’s love coffee’.

 

The co-op has long been a part of the SPREAD and PEARL programmes which have proved invaluable in rebuilding Rwanda’s coffee production in the wake of the 1994 genocide. Both programmes have succeeded in switching focus from quantity to quality coffee production. This focus on quality is clear at Ruli, with the co-op producing outstanding lots, such as this coffee, year after year.

 

This particular coffee originates from Elie Nzabakunda’s farm which is situated close to the washing station. This proximity has been of great benefit, allowing access to the full set of resources at the cooperative headquarters including training sessions, specialist equipment and advisory visits. The cherries from Elie’s farm were hand-picked when fully ripe, then transported to the station using a fleet of tailor-made bikes, to be pulped that same evening. The pulping and drying processes is stringent, intensive and fully traceable. Once complete each lot is cupped by expert Q-graders, to further ensure quality.

Farm	Elie Nzabakunda
Varietal	Red Bourbon
Processing	Fully washed & sun dried on raised beds
Altitude	2,000 metres above sea level
Owner	Elie Nzabakunda
Region	Ruli Sector, Gakenke District of Northern Province