We are excited to release this season’s first lot from Burundi! This selection comes from the Masha site in Kayanza, near Lake Kivu, a region known for some of the most terroir-specific profiles we encounter in coffee. In the cup we find red tea, baking spice, dried fruit, and citrus.
Field Blend
Kayanza
1,900 masl
March, 2024
Hand-picked at peak ripeness. Floated and hand-sorted to further remove defects. De-pulped on the day of harvest. Single dry-fermented for 12 hours. Rinsed in fresh water. Density graded. Dried on traditional African raised beds for 16-20 days until moisture content reaches 10.5%.
ABOUT MASHA
Masha is a coffee cherry collection site in Gatara Commune, Kayanza, in Burundi’s northern province, near the Rwandan border and just below Lake Kivu. Serving as a central hub, the station receives cherry from several thousand smallholder farmers who cultivate coffee on small plots that resemble gardens more than traditional farms. Masha earned first place in Burundi’s Cup of Excellence in 2012, a testament to the exceptional quality produced in this region.
ABOUT THIS FIELD BLEND
Varieties in Burundi are not exactly straightforward. We know that Red Bourbon and Mibirizi are being cultivated; however, we don't know at what relative percentages. Based on the history of production in Burundi there is also most likely some SL34 being grown as well.
Pricing Details
FOB
$10.79/KG
FOT
$11.84/KG
The cost of getting a coffee from cherry to beverage varies enormously depending on its place of origin and the location of its consumption. The inclusion of price transparency is a starting point to inform broader conversation around the true costs of production and the sustainability of specialty coffee as a whole.