Burundi COE Champion bidding batch Kibingo processing Plant Coffee Bean Story _ Burundian Coffee recommendation

Professional coffee knowledge exchange more coffee bean information please follow the coffee workshop (Wechat official account cafe_style)

Burundi is a land with a long coffee tradition. Its high altitude, thousands of hills, volcanic soil and abundant rainfall provide ideal conditions for the production of special and exotic coffee. In Burundi, there are no large plantations. Coffee is actually grown on small family farms, traditionally bringing cherries to the nearest coffee washing station.

Burundi divides its coffee system into so-called Sogestals (Societ é sdeGestion desStations de Lavage-translation: the management company of the washing station). They are the organization behind most washing stations in Burundi. Sogestals supports farmers and washing stations through financing, transportation, international commercialization of fertilizers and coffee.

The coffee comes from the Kayanza region, located in the north of the country, near the border with Rwanda. Kayanza is mainly known for its water source of the Nile. A unique type of water used to treat coffee fruits from all nearby wet mills.

Kibingo's washing treatment plant was built in the mid-1980s. It collects cherries from miniature plantations located around the station on high-altitude hills near the ridge of the Congo-Nile.

In the cup, this special Burundian coffee has floral, citrus and caramel flavors. It balances the fruity sweetness of the toast aroma, which won it the Presidential Cup Excellence Award in 2013.

Arrived in early June, Grainpro's new crop. This is the first time we serve coffee at the Kibingo washing plant in Kayanza province, near the Rwandan border. The washing plant was built in 1986 and currently collects coffee fruits from more than 3500 local farmers. It is located at an altitude of 1893 meters or 6200 feet, near the Congo-Nile crest. The washing plant is famous for its wooden bridges built over the river. The name "Kibingo" comes from the Kirundy language urubingo, which means "Reed". Reeds are planted along the river to hold water and prevent surrounding soil erosion.

Burundian coffee is mainly grown on small farms that do not operate cherries and takes it to local washing stations. The best operating stations pay more for high-quality cherries, which means they are fully mature, well developed and quickly brought to immediate processing from the farm. This may be most obvious at the Kibingo washing plant, whose coffee entered the top 10 in the Excellence Cup competition in 2017, 2015 and 2013, and won first place in 2017. Although this product comes from other farmers and lots in the washing plant, we feel that there is still evidence of this concern and concern for the quality of coffee.

In Burundi, most coffee is grown by farmers. In fact, in this small country with a population of only 9 million, about 800000 families are involved in the industry; it accounts for 80 per cent of Burundi's export earnings. Almost all coffee grown is Arabica coffee and bourbon. Farmers grow crops for their own food supplies, but also grow some cash crops (such as coffee). Most self-employed farms have 50 to 250 trees and only a few bags of coffee. Once the coffee is picked, it must be rushed to the washing plant.

Burundi has a unique coffee processing tradition of crushing and "dry fermentation" the coffee fruit for up to 12 hours, then washing it fully with clean mountian water for between 12 and 24 hours. Finally, soak the beans for 12 to 18 hours, then dry them with parchment on a raised bed. In addition to the high altitude where coffee is grown, this process can also produce clean, high-quality coffee cups.

Province: Kayanza

Commune: Kayanza

Altitude: 1893 m / 6200 ft

Variety of coffee: bourbon

Processing: washing

Cup features: Jasmine and chocolate taste with exquisite body and acidity.

Baking instructions: strong, dense bourbon can be baked to light to dark. Our personal preference is at the beginning of the second crack; there will be some high notes, and chocolate notes will be well defined. A slightly darker barbecue like the Viennese barbecue makes an interesting single espresso.

Burundian Coffee fact:

Population: 8.98 million

Coffee production: 515000 bags (60 kg) or 68 million pounds. Arabica coffee accounts for 96% of production.

Country package capacity: 132 lbs-60 kg

Domestic consumption: very little.

Coffee export: 510000 bags (60 kg)

Area of cultivated land: 60, 000 hectares (about 150000 acres)

Harvest: February to June

Introduction of Arabica: the Belgians introduced Arabica in the early 1930s.

Burundian coffee producing areas: Western and central regions.

Grade: according to the size and number of defects allowed, premium grade washed coffee is Ngoma Mild,AA and A. The average water content is 11.5%.

Farm: an activity dominated entirely by small farmers, with more than 800000 families directly involved in coffee cultivation. The farm is very small, with only 50 to 250 trees per farm. Coffee is grown between 1250 and 2000 meters above sea level.

Plant species: bourbon

END