In the Grinder - Our Daily Coffee Weblog

We’ve been busy in Africa this past year visiting, Burundi, Rwanda and Kenya twice, Uganda and Ethiopia once, and we have a lot to show for it finally. Here’s a brief summary, and there’ll be more coming very soon in blogs, photos, and other stuff.

Rwanda, we have a container of a very wonderful Rwandan Bourbon from Bucafe that in addition to being a wonderful sweet cup, might be a perfect single origin espresso, as the burnt sugar flavors are complimented by enough acidity that it might be all that you need, and if not, a great component to your blend. We have set up a vacuum pack machine in Kigali for this summer’s crop to keep what’s special in Rwandan coffee special along the long trip from inland Great Lakes Africa to the United States and the rest of the world.

Uganda, look for this origin in upcoming blogs. We are found Mecca in a cup, and are going to be cupping each farmers 30-40 bags chop to see what’s out there. 1800 meters + and bourbon varietals. Look for this container in July hopefully. Also, we found a varietal, which we’ve not heard of before. We’ll be cupping that on in isolation to see how it cups out.

Burundi, the first container came in and was very nice in the cup. The second and third container just arrived. We did it here, we found a good cup, and we paid more back to the farmer. Photos will be on the web later this week, and the story how we got the money back to the farmers. Our work is only just starting here. I’ll likely be heading back in May for my fourth visit in two years. Expect great things here, and we invested and put in a vacuum pack machine in Bujumbura.

Kenya, French Mission varietal will be back. We worked with the farm to keep all the coffee in parchment this year, instead of milling it early and sending it to the auction. We have about 160 bags of this very unique coffee that will be shipping in March. Wamugumo cooperative. We’ve bought this coffee for the last two years via the auction, fell in love with the cup, and went to the coop. We donated a moisture meter to the cooperative to help improve the cup. This slightly over dried cup still got a 97 on one of those on line coffee reviews when a great roaster client of ours did their magic. We’ve not cupped the new crop yet, but expect and hope for great things. Lastly, and not leastly (not real word), we have a mixed micro lot box purchased directly from the auctions that’s to go afloat in March too.

Asante,

Jason