Rwanda Nyamagabe FW AA - Buf Cafe 'Nyarusiza Station' (2016/17)

This coffee comes from Buf Cafe and is 100% Bourbon varietal. The famed Buf Cafe washing stations are in the mountains near the village of Karaba, in the Ginkongoro prefecture in south-central Rwanda. Buf Cafe started operation in 2000, after funding aid from the Rwandan Development Bank and USAID’s PEARL project. Buf Cafe are private washing stations, owned wholly by the Muhirwa family, processing coffee cherry from two distinct cooperatives in the Ginkongoro prefecture: Cobabakagi (1300 members) and Terimbere Kawa Yacu (between 400-600 members). They also collect cherry from farmers in other regions, siphoning away outside cooperative output by placing collection sites within the operating zones of other established groups. Buf Cafe operates two separate washing stations – Nyrusiza and Remera. The larger of the two, Remera sits at 1950 meters, and on the drive there we reached hilltop elevations nearing 2200 meters. Processing here follows the Rwandan standard, with a floating tank sort, 8-12 hour dry fermentation, second sort for weight using water shoots, then a 24 hour soak prior to hand washing and hand sorting, concluded by placement on raised drying beds on the mountain valley floor. Similar practices are followed at Nyarusiza. Buf Cafe’s dry mill facility is located in Karaba.

This is one of Taylor's favorites: Smooth and creamy, this coffee from Bufcafe exhibits notes of peach and dark chocolate with a raisin-like sweetness. Flavors of grape and almond emerge as it cools, creating a truly outstanding cup from start to finish.