Name: Akawa

Producer: Akawa Project

Origin: Murango

Varietal: Bourbon

Altitude: 1100-1700 metres above sea level

Process: Natural

Flavours: Blackberry & Rose

 
Importer: Keynote Coffee

Where is it from?

This coffee is part of the Akawa project. An initiative with one of our importers, Keynote with the aim to build stable and fair supply chains in Burundi. The project finances the UTZ certification of the washing stations, 13 so far, so that the

premiums on all coffee sold from the washing stations can be used to train farmers in good management practices. A flat price is paid upfront to the mill prior to

harvest, meaning that the farmers receive all of the money for their cherry upfront

and without negotiation, something which is not common at all in Burundi. Further projects are implemented on the ground by Supremo and SUCCAM, financed by donors and supporters of the project.

Carefully crafted production of both Natural and Honey coffee started in 2018. Farmers have embraced the idea of improving their picking and handling techniques, aware of their role at the very beginning of the value chain. Strict quality control measures are enforced in the cherry drop-off, something which the farmers are happy to work with given the payment mechanism. The coffee is stored in grain pro bags between each processing step, and is sent to Nairobi for storage prior to export, making use of the cooler climate to preserve quality.

Farmers are trained to deliver strictly ripe cherries to the mills. Cherries are delivered to the mill within 5 hours of picking and are processed as soon as minimal volumes are collected in order to not compromise quality. Honey coffee cherries on the stations of Runyinya and Rugazi are passed through the same pulpers as the Fully Washed coffees. The pulpers are cleaned to avoid any contamination between batches.

Once pulped the sticky mucilage bypasses the fermentation tanks and is sent directly to the drying beds. There is no pulping taking place in the case of Natural coffees, these are sent to the drying beds straight after flotation has taken place.

Roast

Light/Medium


Brew

Filter & Espresso