Murambi – Kiganda – Burundi

Farm: Various small holders in the Kiganda area

Altitude: 2000 MASL

Varietal: 100% Bourbon

Harvest: February 2018

Process: Cherry removed with disc pulpers, fermented for almost a day, washed soaked for another day and laid out to dry in raised beds

Notes: Baking Spices, Dried Papaya, Fresh Fruit

100% Arabica

Murambi is an impressive operation, a privately owned collection site in the Kiganda area near the Mubarazi river. The coffee processed at Murambi are from the surrounding hillside villages, which there’s talk of separating in the future, but this year was all blended together by day of delivery. Most of the farms are around 2000 meters above sea level and entirely planted in Bourbon. They process coffee in a similar way to Kenya, in that the cherry is removed with disc pulpers, fermented for almost a full day, and then washed/soaks for another day before being laid out to dry on raised beds. Last year the station received a large premium at the year’s end for the coffees they exported, and the mill owner invested in 450 goats that were distributed to as many farmers who work with the station. The idea is for the goats to both help with building out an organic farming system, as well as an added source of revenue for the farmers. Also worth a mention that Murambi won the Burundi Cup of Excellence competition in 2012.

Photos and Text courtesy of Sweet Maria’s