DR Congo, Kivu

This organic fully washed 'Kivu 3' lot is from Hutwe washing station in North Kivu, one of 8 such stations operated by Virunga Coffee Company, set up by Schluter Ltd. (now Covoya Europe) in 2012 to produce specialty coffees in eastern DRC and improve livelihoods for smallholder farmers in the region. Hutwe works with over 600 farmers in South Kivu, who cultivate at altitudes between 1,750 and 2,000masl.

Hutwe village is located in the Kirumba region of Nord-Kivu (North of Lake Kivu), on the edge of Virunga National Park, bordered by Uganda to the east. The region has excellent conditions for speciality arabica production with plentiful rainfall, high altitude and highly fertile volcanic soils. The region is also very poverty-stricken and has had a severe lack of infrastructure which has made high quality arabica both difficult to produce and very challenging to export. Virunga Coffee Company has sought to overcome many of these problems through hands-on farmer education and investment in local infrastructure such as roads and bridges. This has allowed quality improvements every season and, in turn, higher premiums for farmers.

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Origin: Democratic Republic of Congo

Producers: Virunga

Town/Region: North Kivu

Certifications: Organic

Roast profile: light-medium

Tasting notes: Cherry, orange, toffee, blackberry

(Tasting notes are not added flavors. They describe qualities we identify in the coffee. None of our coffees have added flavors or ingredients.)

Processing method: washed

Elevation: 1500 - 2500 masl

Varieties/Cultivars: Bourbon, Typical

Recommended Brewing: Pour-over, paper filter drip, Cold-Brew

Acidity: average - above average

Body: medium

Sweetness: average