Burundi Izuba Kayanza

Raspberry, blueberry and jasmine Elegant aromas of jasmine introduce the sensory analysis of this coffee, which has a soft red fruit acidity, a full body and a fruity finish with hints of blueberry.

QUALITY SCORE:

86,50

COFFEE DATA

Quality score:

86,50

Varietal:

Red Bourbon

Processing:

Washed

Region:

Runinya, Kayanza Province

Harvest:

April – July

Altitude:

1500 – 1700 mt

Farm:

Kayanza smallholders

Producer:

Izuba washing station

RECOMMENDED RECIPE

Based on the roasting style of our roasters Andrea and Fabrizio, we suggest two recipes, for espresso and for filter (V60), which you can use as a starting point to emphasise the flavours of this specific batch. You can also enjoy this coffee with other extraction methods, using our suggestions as a starting point to obtain your preferred sensory nuances, to be adjusted according to the grinding level, the water characteristics and the equipment used.

coffee dose:

10 g (single shot)
18 g (double shot

brewing formula:

50%

cup dose:

20 g (single shot)
36 g (double shot)

extraction time:

temperature:

93,5° C

pump pressure:

coffee dose:

15 g

brewing ratio:

1 / 16

dose/water:

240 g

temperature:

93,5° C

THE MANUFACTURER

Kayanza smallholders The coffee plantations in the Kayanza area are very small, often less than a hectare each, with just a hundred trees or so; As soon as the coffee is harvested, the farmers immediately take it to the washing station for processing, so each daily batch can come from several dozen farmers. Izuba washing station Izuba which means “sun” in Kirundi, is located in Runinya, Kabarore Municipality and Kayanza Province, near Kibira National Park. The volcanic soil, rich in minerals, the climate and the proximity to the river, which guarantees a source of fresh water, make this area fantastic for the production of high quality coffee. The Izuba washing station is managed by Ntama Appolinaire, who works alongside operations director Prosper Merrimee, employing 2 full-time staff and approximately 250 local workers during the harvest season. Through the work carried out, attention to detail and strict quality controls, Izuba guarantees batches of coffee of excellent quality, which contributes to improving the lifestyle of local farmers. The washing station in fact carries out a social function for the improvement of the living conditions of the community, committing itself to ensuring that all coffee producing families have complete health insurance and, during the harvest, that employees are paid 25% more than at local washing stations.

THE NATION

Burundi Burundi is a landlocked country in south-eastern Africa, which borders Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the south and east, and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west; the country is rich in hilly terrain and mountains with an ideal climate for the cultivation of coffee, which is the most exported raw material after gold. Despite its small size coffee cultivation, spread across 5 of the country’s 18 provinces, employs around 600,000-800,000 producing families, divided into five regions. Coffee was introduced to Burundi during the 1930s, during the period it spent as a Belgian colony; after achieving independence in 1962, the World Bank helped the government by providing financial resources to increase coffee production and build new washing stations. Coffee production then grew significantly, until the outbreak of the civil war in 1993, which lasted until 2003, leading to the abandonment of many plantations and the destruction of numerous coffee trees. After the war, the new government once again focused its energies on coffee, allowing the country to become a significant producer in East Africa.

THE REGION

Kayanza Kayanza is located in the north of the country, near the border with Rwanda and has around 21 perfectly organized washing stations, which represent the beating heart of the national coffee industry. The main harvest usually starts slowly in March, peaks around May (depending on altitude and weather conditions), and ends in July.

CULTIVAR

Bourbon The Bourbon cultivar, the most cultivated in the country, together with the care and dedication of the producers, is quickly earning the country a reputation as a producer of excellent Specialty Coffees. At the beginning of the 1700s, French missionaries introduced the Typica variety from Yemen to Burundi; the spontaneous mutations that occurred in contact with the local soil meant that the plants flowered and fruited more productively. Bourbon, the most famous of the varietals descending from Typica, is a coffee of high quality and extreme sweetness.

THE PRODUCTION PROCESS

Coffee cherry harvesting The coffee cherries are harvested by hand to ensure the fruit is perfectly ripe and delivered to the washing station for processing on the same day. Peel and pulp removal The first processing step consists of mechanically removing the skin and pulp of the fruit in order to separate the green coffee beans, which are then fermented in water. The processing waste, peel and pulp, will be used as natural compost for plant nutrition. Fermentation in water The coffee beans are immersed in water in fermentation tanks, where they will remain for a period of 12 to 24 hours depending on the climate outside. After fermentation, the coffee beans are passed through special rinsing channels where the remaining mucilage will be removed. Drying The coffee beans are now placed on raised beds (African bed) and dried in the sun for a period of 3 to 4 weeks. This slow procedure results in homogenous beans with a final moisture content of between 10% and 12%. Packaging and humidity reduction After drying, the coffees will be packed in jute sacks and stored in the warehouse for about 1 month; this process helps to further standardise the moisture percentage, thus avoiding the risk of mould formation during sea transport. Decortication Once the right degree of moisture has been reached, the parchment is removed from the coffee bean through a roller machine. Afterwards, the coffee is finally placed in jute bags and made ready for shipment.