Beans Details

“Bourbon Coffee,” originates from the Bourbon varietal of Arabica coffee beans, which has grown wild in Rwanda for over a century. Bourbon beans are known for their deep, buttery chocolate flavors, as well as their sweetness and very light fruit overtones. They yield well-balanced coffees and are less common than other types of coffee beans as Bourbon plants generally carry fewer coffee cherries per plant than other varieties.

Most of the plantations in the country are fairly high and are usually situated somewhere between 4,000 and 6,500 feet above sea level. This gives the coffee plants a nice, high altitude to grow in that is perfect for producing excellent beans. The local growing season typically begins in either September or October and continues until harvesting takes place between March and July. Within those months, the harvesting tends to peak from May on. 

The Rwanda Coffee harvesting season runs from March to August, ohe harvest selection can always shift a little depending on the region, weather and the altitude of the farm. Farms are generally small family-owned operations, the family care for the plants and pick the cherries themselves. Competition for cherry can be pretty tough, farmers can deliver to whichever washing station they want, so it’s important that the washing stations maintain good relationships the farmers and offer competitive prices for higher qualities. The producers and their washing station managers often have roots and history with the local community which helps strengthen these relationships.