Rwanda: Karongi Gitesi

We are excited to bring you another beautiful coffee out of Rwanda. The Gitesi site is at 1740 meters, actually one of the lower areas,surrounded by high ridges ranging up to 2000 meters where coffee is grown. More than 1,800 coffee farmers in the area supply Gitesi with cherries each year. The station fosters a relationship with the farmers by paying an additional dividend, based on performance, at the end of each season. Gitesi was started in 2005 and has been building capacity with each passing harvest. Like much of Rwanda, the coffee is Bourbon variety. This lot was "built" by looking at all their day lot batches and combining the best ones. Gitesi has placed at COE ("Cup of Excellence") more than once, including top coffee a few years back, and continues to produce competition-level coffees. This is another beautiful Farm Gate coffee that is good for espresso.

Cupping Notes: Darjeeling spiced tea, black currant, chocolate and a hint of lemon

Brew Recommendations: Drip, French Press, pour-over, espresso.

Farm Gate Coffee: Farmers paid at least 50% above Fair Trade

Varietal: Bourbon

Region: Karongi

Altitude: 1740-2000 meters

Process: Wet processed (washed) and sun-dried on raised beds

Equity Pricing (EP) Levels

Sustaining Level: $16 per 12 oz bag (check out subscriptions for deep discounts) | More info below

Uplifting Level: $20 per 12 oz bag (check out subscriptions for deep discounts) | More info below

Benefacting Level: $24 per 12 oz bag (check out subscriptions for deep discounts) | More info below

The Rwanda: Karongi Gitesi, sourced by Keia & Martyn's Coffee, represents the high-quality output of the Gitesi washing station in the Karongi region. This lot is composed of the Bourbon varietal, a plant type historically celebrated for its balanced sweetness and complex acidity. Because this coffee undergoes a washed process, the inherent characteristics of the bean are highlighted with a clean, refined profile.

In the cup, this selection offers a nuanced experience featuring notes of Darjeeling spiced tea, black currant, chocolate, and a hint of lemon. While individual perceptions of these flavors can vary, enthusiasts often use a flavor wheel to help identify and articulate such specific sensory attributes. Grown at elevations between 1740 and 2000 meters above sea level, this Rwandan coffee showcases the meticulous care taken by the Gitesi producers to maintain the integrity of the Bourbon varietal through traditional processing methods.