Burundi — Cumba

This lot comes from the Cumba community in Ngozi Province, northern Burundi, near the border with Rwanda. Coffee in this region is cultivated by smallholder farmers and processed at the Nkanda Washing Station. The name “Ngozi” means “blessing” in the Kirundi language — an apt description of the region’s importance to coffee producers and their families.

Burundi is the most coffee-dependent country in the world by percentage of GDP, and coffee cultivation remains central to the livelihoods of its rural communities. Smallholder farmers typically grow Red Bourbon at elevations of 1,700–1,900 meters, delivering ripe cherries to communal washing stations for processing. At Nkanda, the coffee is washed — depulped, fermented, and dried on raised beds under close supervision.

This lot also represents the work of Pierre Nzeyimana and his three sons, producers whose coffees Peregrine has sourced multiple times over the years. Their dedication to quality has resulted in some of the most memorable Burundian coffees we’ve roasted, including a natural lot from 2020 that has remained a benchmark in our offerings.

Like many washed coffees from Burundi, Cumba highlights the clarity, brightness, and balance that the country’s highlands are known for. Compared with naturals, which often emphasize berry and chocolate notes, washed lots such as this one lean toward crisp fruit, sweetness, and lively acidity.

Profile

• Roast: Light-Medium

• Region: Cumba Community, Ngozi Province, Burundi

• Farm/Station: Smallholder farms processed at Nkanda Washing Station

• Producers: Pierre Nzeyimana & Family

• Process: Washed

• Elevation: 1,700–1,900m

• Variety: Red Bourbon

• Cup: Spiced Pear, Brown Sugar, Tangerine