I hope you are all keeping well.
It’s time to introduce our new Ugandan bean! We wanted to inform you of a little change within our core Heritage Range Coffee Selection; namely that our St. Cuthbert’s Journey coffee is once again going on a pilgrimage, this time we’re moving on from Burundi to Uganda.
We have chosen a bean that suits a medium-light roast profile that will blend well in our Castle Blend and stand it’s own as an exciting new single origin too. You can buy our new Ugandan St. Cuthbert’s Journey Coffee here or pop into our roastery directly.
A bit more about Uganda, coffee and the area our beans comes from:
The magnificent Rwenzori Mountains, famously known as the ‘Mountains of the Moon’, stretch for 120km along Western Uganda and are home to the Bakonzo tribe. The high altitude, fertile soils and plentiful rainfall provide perfect conditions for growing coffee trees beans, while the pristine snow-capped peaks and the glaciers give rise to many rivers. The Rwenzori region has a long coffee tradition. With on average 2 acres, Bakonzo farmers work manually, with the help of the whole family, and traditionally group together to process the cherries. Coffee is a source of incomes that allows them to support their families and improve their homes.
While farmers traditionally sell parchments and kibokos (dried cherries), more and more choose to sell the freshly-picked red cherries to washing-stations. This enables farmers to access quick payment for coffee, and takes away the risk of drying coffee for the farmer, many of whom are not well equipped to dry coffee. Our green bean suppliers sister company in Uganda, Kyagalanyi Coffee Limited, and its partner in Rwenzori, Agri Evolve Ltd., are operating two washing stations in Kasese, in the heart of Rwenzori. While the Rwenzoris are known for producing almost exclusively Naturals (95%), our washing stations produce as well fully-washed, honeys and also experiment with Pura Cepa fermentations.
Located 25km southwest of Kasese, in the Kisinga Trading Center, Kisinga Coffee Station was built in 2015 with one purpose: explore the full potential of Rwenzori’s arabica coffee, and support farmers improving their yields, their profits and subsequently their living conditions. In response to the growing number of farmers delivering their cherries to the washing station, Agri Evolve and Kyagalanyi built a second washing station in 2019, in Bugoye, north of the Kasese district, and this is where our new Ugandan bean comes from.
Instead of just focusing on the processing of the cherries, Jonny from Agri Evolve and his team mobilised the whole community to take a vested interest in coffee production: from empowering farmers in the care of the coffee trees – with the implementation of the Volcafe Way program – to the importance of picking only red cherries, or implementing basics social benefits helping the workers in the long-run. Employees of Agri Evolve benefit from a health insurance, a pension plan and receive their wages on a bank account (this practice – which helps building up savings – is not common in Uganda) The success of the project relies on the deep-rooted commitment to economic sustainability with a clear commercial view, not just a charitable one. As Jonny says: “The best way to help the community is to buy their coffee!
While the topography allows to build big washing stations (compared to Mount Elgon area for instance), the transport of cherries from the mountain slopes to the washing stations remains a challenge for many farmers. To overcome it, Agri Evolve created 20 Buying Stations, where farmers can deliver and sell their cherries. Each Buying Station is a business run by a farmer, from which Agri Evolve buys the ripe cherries. Instead of owning the whole supply chain, they have put in place an economic structure that fosters self-empowerment and sane competition. Every buying station keeps track of its purchase and make those data available to Agri Evolve. Depending on the quality and the quantity of each delivery, lots are kept separate to create “Buying Station” lots and trace the coffee down the farmers.
Country: Uganda
Region: Kasese, Rwenzori
Washing Station: Bugoye Coffee Station
Altitude: 1,100 – 2,200 M.A.S.L
Variety: SL14, SL28, Catimor
Process: Washed
Cup Score: 84.75
Flavour Notes: black currant, black tea, butter cream, honey like sweetness
We’re excited to see what you think of our wonderful new Ugandan bean! Do let us know – send us a message or tag us on your socials – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
All our best,
Until next time,
Cherish The Moments – Savour The Taste!
Carina & Bernhard x