While Rwanda still faces a number of socio-economic challenges today, the East-African nation has become one of the most stable countries on the African continent in the years following the horrific 1994 genocide. Rwanda has seen stable economic growth year-on-year, and as of 2024 the IMF reports that many of the country’s key economic indicators continue to trend upwards, spurred by the Rwandan people’s ongoing commitment to regeneration and progress, as well as foreign aid and investment. 

Coffee plays a significant role in Rwanda’s economy, and has historically been supported by the national government, international investment, and effective trade rules focused on exporting. First introduced by missionaries at the beginning of the 20th century, coffee has since become one of Rwanda’s largest cash crops..

Rwanda’s coffee industry is made up of some 450 000 smallholding farmers spread across the country’s verdant, rolling hills. This particular coffee comes from Gakenke, a small rural district found in Northern Rwanda. Gakenke’s smallholder coffee farmers are organised and work under Twongerekawa-Coko, a cooperative that provides its member farmers with favourable returns on their labour, as well as training in agricultural and coffee processing best-practices, which elevates both the quality and quantity of their product. You can read a little more about Twongerekawa-Coko from Truth Coffee Roasting’s notes below. 

Phaedon's tasting notes

This Rwandan offering was quite different from the other Rwandans I've tasted recently. That might be because it's naturally processed, still a relative rarity for Rwandan specialty coffees, but more common that it was before. That natural processing seems to add a bit of extra oomph, particularly in the body and sweetness departments, emphasising those qualities of the Red Bourbon variety but muting that fruity acidity just a tad. The results are big, bold and pleasant, like drinking a stone fruit juice (prune juice perhaps?) but still with some hints of that bright berry acidity on the finish. I enjoyed it in both a pour-over and a siphon brew.

Truth’s notes

“In 2009, eleven [coffee farming women] decided to transform what was being grown as ‘traditional’ coffee [in Rwanda] into something else. 

“Fast forward to 2024, now with a total of 384 members in the cooperative, of which 75% are women. This development means that Twongerekawa-Coko can provide the training and support to its members on a number of topics, ranging from small projects that bring in additional income during off-season, to strategies for reducing soil erosion through planting trees and adapting to and preparing for climate change. 

Seedlings are provided free of charge to farmers, to encourage and maintain plant vigour and quality of crop. ”

Coffee details

• Truth’s tasting notes: Raspberry, melon, vanilla
• Country: Rwanda
• District: Gakenke District
• Producer: Twongerekawa- Coko washing station
• Variety: Red Bourbon
• Process: Natural
• Altitude: 1800 - 2200masl