Burundi — Nyankurazo

This lot comes from the Nyankurazo community in Ngozi Province, northern Burundi, near the border with Rwanda. The coffee is grown by smallholder farmers and processed at the Nkanda Washing Station. The name “Ngozi” means “blessing” in the Kirundi language — a fitting description of a region where coffee has long been central to both culture and livelihood.

Burundi is one of the world’s most coffee-dependent economies, with the crop representing the largest share of its GDP. The country’s relatively small geographic size means coffee production is deeply interwoven with the lives of farmers and their families, who often cultivate small plots of Red Bourbon at elevations between 1,700–1,900 meters.

At Nkanda Washing Station, ripe cherries are delivered by local farmers, depulped, and carefully washed. The beans are then fermented and sorted before being dried on raised beds. This meticulous process reflects the collective effort of hundreds of smallholders working together to produce high-quality lots.

Like many washed coffees from Burundi, Nyankurazo showcases the bright, lively acidity and sweet, layered depth that the country is increasingly celebrated for. Compared with natural-processed Burundis, which tend toward berry and chocolate notes, washed lots such as this one emphasize clarity, effervescence, and balance in the cup.

Profile

• Roast: Light

• Region: Nyankurazo Community, Ngozi Province, Burundi

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

• Process: Washed

• Elevation: 1,700–1,900m

• Variety: Red Bourbon

• Cup: Pineapple Juice, Cola, Oatmeal Cookie