Burundi Kirundo Natural (Cafex) *TOP LOT*

CAFEX was launched by a Belgian-Burundian couple that wanted to combine the coffee production of their ancestral lands with sustainable development and a desire to improve the lives of the local population. CAFEX has developed a profitable business model for all parties based on mutual participation with growers. 

Since its inception, the CAFEX station has positively impacted families in the region. The town where the washing station is located is undeveloped and the implementation of the CAFEX station has provided job opportunities to the local men and women, as well as better and more sustainble salary to improve their quality of life. Families who have a seasonal job have the opportunity to receive an extra income that gives them access to medical care or allows them to buy books in order to send their children to school. Whereas many coffee producers have to wait many months to receive final payment for their harvest, CAFEX has introduced a weekly payment to growers, with no delay. It allows them to have a regular income throughout the harvest coffee season.

This lot is milled at IKAWA NZIZA which began in 2013 as a partnership between the owners of CAFEX mill & Schluter (now Olam Specialty Coffee Europe) specifically aimed at building and promoting the specialty coffee production in Burundi. IKAWA NZIZA’s mill is the first purpose-built specialty drymill in Burundi, designed to cater for high-quality microlot coffees.

THE PROCESS

The operation of the washing station is a huge challenge. Farmers work all day to handpick their coffee cherries, at sunset the coffee arrives at the CAFEX washing station. All workers of the station give the coffee their greatest care. The processing takes place at night, while the reception of the cherries takes place from sunrise until the early hours of the night, allowing farmers to focus on providing the highest quality.