This season’s Rwandan Washed microlot comes from our partners at Baho Coffee and Sundog Trading, representing our fifth season of working together! Located in the famed Nyamasheke Province of Rwanda, Ngoma Washing Station is set in one of the most stunningly beautiful locations possible, directly on the shores of Lake Kivu. In total, 780 farmers deliver to this station, which translates to around 575 bags of exportable green coffee each season. It’s quickly becoming a favorite in the Baho network, producing consistently excellent washed and natural lots.  As is standard practice for Baho-owned stations - training, inputs , and substantial contributions towards health insurance premiums are provided for all farmers delivering. Furthermore, each station has an agronomist on site that organizes training sessions focused on topics such as coffee plant care (planting, fertilizing, pruning, harvesting, etc), environmental protection, and importance of our traceability efforts. Various inputs like fertilizers and new coffee seedlings are provided free of cost to all farmers. Baho is involved a step further here as well - helping farmers with transportation to gather materials and lending tools/equipment when necessary.

As buyers, it’s always exciting to find more information about where coffee is coming from; but additionally, Baho owner Emmanuel made it very clear that it was helpful to Baho and their producer network as well.  It created the opportunity to directly support producers and hopefully motivate them to continue in specialty. This Rugeregere Hill micro-lot is a part of Baho’s ongoing appellation project surrounding the Ngoma Station. They’re focusing on smaller lot separations by processing groups of farmers’ coffee together based on the highest quality growing areas. The hills are often chosen simply based on altitude, which tends to correlate to a distinct vibrancy and saturation of flavor. The bulk of this producer groups’ farms sit right around the 1900 masl mark.

This light roasted coffee is juicy and fruit forward with notes of raspberry, hibiscus and mulling spices. This is our favorite naturally processed lot of the year and absolutely shines as an iced pour-over.