Rwanda Kawa Mbilima

Tasting Notes: Grape, Blackberry Jam, Cola, Black Tea

Region: Northern Province, Gakenke District Farm: Various Smallholders Altitude: 2200 masl Varietals: Bourbon Process: Washed

 

Bright and expressive, this lot opens with a fruit forward profile, layered jammy sweetness, and a smooth black tea like character that carries through a clean, balanced finish.

Produced at the Mbilima washing station in Rwanda’s Northern Province, this coffee is part of the Dukunde Kawa cooperative. Founded in 2000, Dukunde Kawa has built a reputation for exceptional quality and a progressive, community driven structure, with more than 2,000 smallholder members and a workforce made up largely of women. The cooperative has received multiple sustainability awards from the SCA and has consistently placed in Rwanda’s Cup of Excellence competition.

Perched at over 2,000 meters above sea level, Mbilima is one of the highest washing stations in the country. The region’s mineral rich soils and cool climate slow the ripening process, helping develop clarity and complexity in the cup. Careful processing, from hand sorting ripe cherry to extended drying on raised beds, further refines the profile, resulting in a coffee that highlights the distinct character of Rwanda’s bourbon varieties.

This washed Bourbon from Discovery Coffee originates in Rwanda's Northern Province, sourced from the Dukunde Kawa cooperative's Mbilima washing station in Gakenke District. Grown at 2200 meters, the coffee presents a dark fruit-forward profile—grape and blackberry jam notes anchored by cola and black tea undertones.

The washed processing method typically emphasizes clarity and acidity, though the cooperative's elevation and terroir shape the final expression. Bourbon is a foundational varietal known for balanced sweetness and complexity, making it a reliable foundation for regional character to emerge. Those seeking richer, layered fruit notes will find this lot inviting.