Burundi Micosta Natural (Lot G15)
About This Coffee
History of Coffee in Burundi
During colonization, Belgians forced the people of Burundi to grow coffee to pay taxes, an all too familiar story. So, it is understandable that after independence, the farmers of Burundi were less than enthusiastic about growing coffee and there was almost no focus on quality. When world coffee prices dropped to historic lows 20 years ago, prices paid to farmers by government run washing stations were so low that coffee was smuggled into neighboring countries to be sold as Rwandan or Tanzanian coffee. When prices began to rise and become relatively stable, Burundi coffee farmers in the northern highlands did not forget that Rwanda received better prices for quality. The coffee farmers of Burundi began to emulate some of what was happening in Rwanda, forming cooperatives and seeking ways to improve quality
The Process
Ripe cherries (superior quality) are selected from daily pickings, and sun-dried on raised African beds, being turned every 2 hours for the initial days for even fermentation, and covered during the midday heat to prevent sun damage. The drying process takes an average of 22 days.
Once optimum moisture levels have been reached, the coffee is transported for milling at Ikawa Nziza’s drymill in Gashoho commune between the towns of Ngozi and Muyinga. The mill is designed to cater to small, traceable microlots. Its location in a high altitude (1,730masl) and low humidity environment provides the optimal environment to preserve the quality of the coffee and therefore demand higher prices for farmers. From there the processed coffee is handpicked, bagged in Grainpro and then trucked to Mombasa for shipment.
- Subregion Muyinga Province
- Producer Type Small Holder Farmers
- Dry Mill Ikawa Nziza
- Processing Natural/Dry Processed
- Bag Types Grain Pro / Ecotact
- Plant Species Arabica
- Variety Bourbon
- Min Growing Altitude 1600m
- Max Growing Altitude 1650m
- Screen Size 15 Up
- On Sale No
- Top Lot No
- Price Per Kg €6.95
- Status Spot
- Coffee Grade BDI CA NAT SPY SC 15+
- CTRM Contract Number P8002332-1
- Origin Burundi
- Warehouse Vollers Hamburg