Kinini Village Washed

Just in: a limited offering from the great Kinini Coffee Cooperative! This light-medium roast opens with aromas of caramel and cherry. When sipped, the round body carries notes of graham cracker and Meyer lemon alongside wild strawberry acidity and baked apple sweetness. Lemongrass and malt linger in the finish.

Details

Producer: Kinini Coffee Cooperative Farm: 342 Smallholders Region: Northern Province Altitude: 1,800-2,200 masl | 5,906-7,218 feet Varietal: Bourbon Process: Washed Roast: Light-Medium Notes: Caramel, Lemongrass, Baked Apple

The Story

Crop to Cup Importers purchased the very first lot that Kinini Coffee Cooperative exported to the US in 2018 after discovering the co-op via the International Women's Coffee Alliance, as 85% of Kinini's members are women. Their coffee has become a favorite among our customers and staff in the years since.

After spending 10 years developing schools and community infrastructure for children of the Rwandan genocide, Jacquie Turner and Malcolm Clear founded Kinini Coffee in 2014 in an effort to provide sustainable income for these communities. Its structure is unprecedented in the region: Kinini Coffee signed a "lease" on parcels of land owned by various farmers throughout the area, most of which was not in use. This lease stipulated that Kinini would provide the farmers with coffee trees, training, and organization, while putting 10% of profits toward supporting education and health in the members' communities. All the farmers had to do was agree to deliver cherries to the Kinini Washing Station when the trees fruited in the future, for which they would be paid.

The care taken at the farms (by farmers incentivized to do so), at the washing station, during cherry collection, and on the drying tables has resulted in some of the highest-scoring coffees in the region.

This year's lot comes from 342 smallholders in the villages of Kinini, Tumba, and Mageragere.

The Kinini Village Washed, sourced from Rwanda’s Northern Province, represents the meticulous work of the Kinini Coffee Cooperative. Grown at elevations between 1800 and 2200 masl, this lot features the Bourbon varietal, a plant historically celebrated for its balanced sweetness and complex profile. By utilizing the washed method, the producers emphasize the inherent clarity of the bean, allowing the specific terroir of the region to shine through in the cup.

Roasted by PT's Coffee Roasting, this selection highlights a distinct flavor profile of caramel, lemongrass, and baked apple. While washed coffees are often prized for their bright acidity and clean finish, the specific interplay of these notes can be further explored using a flavor wheel. This coffee serves as a refined example of Rwandan production, showcasing how traditional processing techniques can elevate the nuanced characteristics of high-altitude Bourbon harvests.