RWANDA - NATURAL BOURBON, BUSANZE STATION

Hello to May and our first African coffee in a good while! This month we’re featuring a natural processed bourbon from Rwanda. As with most coffees from the region, the coffee comes from a co-op featuring 81 small producers, more than half are women. The processing is a standard no thrills natural. The cherries were sorted and patio dried in the sun.

Personally, I’ve been so neck deep in South American coffee all year that this bean was a shock to my system. A most welcome and much needed one. The aroma hits with big fruit. I’m talking red berries and grape. The brew is syrupy and very sweet. With cooling comes complex decadence. The strawberry holds but the mouthfeel combines with the sweetness to give the rich impression of melted milk chocolate. The finish has the slightly tannic quality of black tea and lingers with the flavor of grape candy. It’s good times and for me, it’s a solid reminder to not get stuck in the same origins. There’s a whole world out there folks.

~ Joe

PRODUCER: KUN CO-OP, BUSANZE WASHING STATION, SOUTHERN RWANDA

VARIETY: RED BOURBON

PROCESS: NATURAL

GREEN COST: $9.39/lb

TASTING NOTES: STRAWBERRY / BLACK TEA / MILK CHOCOLATE

(250 grams whole bean)