We are excited to bring you our first coffee out of Rwanda. Yandaro Station is a coffee cherry collection site located in Kayanza, Burundi's northern province that borders neighboring Rwanda. The station itself is in the Kabarore Commune, which it serves, but also is a central coffee cherry delivery site for 22 of the surrounding villages. Farmers grow older bourbon types, the original coffee cultivar introduced to the area in the 1930s by Catholic monks traveling from the island of Reunion. Yandaro sits at just under 1800 meters above sea level, and many of the farmers have coffee planted much higher than this. Yandaro was built in the mid 1980s, a time when the World Bank was investing heavily in Burundi's coffee sector, building out washing stations like Yandaro to serve the surrounding coffee communities. More recently they've come under the direction of a Burundi coffee investment group who are able to offer Yandaro, and several other Kayanza stations (Kibingo is another), agronomical assistance to station members, regular maintenance of washing station equipment and drying beds, and management teams who follow the coffee deliveries from cherry selection, to keeping lots separated by quality tiers. Since partnering with this group, several of the stations have seen top placement in Burundi coffee competitions, including Yandaro placing 7th and 19th in recent Burundi Cup of Excellence competitions. This is another beautiful Farm Gate coffee that is good for espresso.

Cupping Notes: honey, ripe cantaloupe, mild tea, and a fresh peach

Brew Recommendations: Drip, French Press, pour over, espresso

Farm Gate Coffee: Farmers paid at least 50% above Fair Trade

Varietal: Bourbon

Region: Kabarore Commune

Altitude: 1800 meters

Process: Wet processed (washed) and patio sun-dried on raised beds