MUSHONYI

ORIGIN : Rutsiro District, Western Province, Rwanda FARMER : Mushonyi Washing Station ALTITUDE : 1600-1950 m VARIETAL : Red Bourbon PROCESSING : Fully Washed ROAST : Medium TASTING NOTES : Brown Sugar, Mangosteen, Lime, Floral, Chocolate

 

Coffees from Mushonyi washing station never fail to impress, and this lot is no exception. Sweet and clean, floral and fruity, this Fully Washed lot from Mushonyi washing station is everything you want from a Rwandan coffee. Further, all purchases contribute towards our IMPACT Beyond Flagship project in Rwanda: Coffee Productivity & Income Diversification. The initiative supports coffee farming families in Rwanda by investing in regenerative agriculture and livelihood diversification – key strategies that can contribute to closing the living income gap.  

Mushonyi washing station is situated just one kilometer away from the shores of Lake Kivu. The 1,200 growers that deliver cherry to this station live and farm on the hills surrounding Mushonyi. In these hills, the altitude can vary from a low of 1,600 meters above sea level to a high of 1,950 meters above sea level. Farmers, on average, cultivate about 300 coffee trees on their small plots. Many also intercrop bananas, eucalyptus and cassava to generate additional income.  

Mushonyi was originally built by the army. At the time, the army was anticipating high volumes of cherry, and they built to size. The station has eight fermentation tanks, a standard washing channel and cherry sorting shed for additional sorting before cherry is pulped. Rwacof maintains this infrastructure in pristine condition, even in years when the washing station’s capacity exceeds the volume of cherry delivered. 

 

We roast on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and to ensure the best tasting coffees, orders received after Monday may not be processed or shipped until the following week.

Sourced from the Rutsiro District in Rwanda’s Western Province, the Mushonyi lot is processed at the Mushonyi Washing Station. This coffee is composed entirely of the Red Bourbon varietal, which is widely recognized for its balanced sweetness and complex acidity. As a fully washed coffee, the beans undergo a meticulous cleaning process that typically highlights the inherent clarity and brightness of the terroir.

When evaluating these beans, drinkers may notice a profile defined by brown sugar, mangosteen, lime, floral aromatics, and chocolate. Because flavor perception is subjective, referencing a flavor wheel can be a helpful tool for identifying these specific nuances during your brew. This selection is brought to you by Bard Coffee, reflecting their commitment to highlighting the distinct characteristics of Rwandan production. Whether enjoyed as a pour-over or a standard drip, this coffee offers a refined look at the potential of high-altitude Bourbon cultivation.