Gitega 183, Rwanda

Tasting notes:

Jasmine, cola, lemon sorbet, black grape

Coffee info:

Location: Nyamagabe District, Southern Province
Elevation: 1700 - 1900 masl
Variety: Red Bourbon
Process: Washed

Farm info:

The Gitega Hill’s washing station is in the Nyamagabe District of the southern province and is located very close to Nyungwe Forest and the traced source of the Nile River. Coffee cherries are delivered to the Gitega Hills station and then floated and separated to remove any defective cherries.

Bernard Uwitije, a native of the area, had been trading non washed ordinary coffee up until 2015, when he realised the potential for fully washed specialty grade coffee. Despite being his first time in processing fully washed coffee, he could count on his overall experience and knowledge when establishing the wet mill. He equipped the station with a 1500kg Penagos machine, fermentation tanks, and raised drying beds. These investments, along with strong oversight, has yielded very high quality parchment in his first full year in operation.The average farm supplying to Gitega is at an altitude around 1650m, and that high altitude along with the volcanic soil of the area make Gitega an excellent location for high quality processing.

One strategic area of collection is called Miko, which is made up of approximately 165 coffee farming families. The Miko farms sit between 1700 - 1900 masl and have been consistent with strong yield and higher than average cup scores. Gitega Hills processed a little over 150 tons of cherry for the first year, but the capacity of the station has it positioned for growth in the coming seasons.