Julekaffe Rwanda, Macuba 250 gram

Sensory notes: Black Tea, Lemongrass, Dark Chocolate, and Raspberry.
 
Macuba Fully Washed is an exceptional coffee from Rwanda that showcases the country's commitment to producing high-quality specialty coffee. This coffee is produced at the Macuba washing station, which is situated in the high-altitude hills of the Nyamasheke District.
 
Location and Altitude
The Macuba washing station is strategically located at an impressive altitude of 1,685 meters above sea level. However, the coffee cherries used in this lot are grown at even higher elevations, reaching up to 2,100 meters above sea level. This high-altitude environment provides ideal growing conditions for coffee, with warm days and cool nights that allow the cherries to mature slowly and develop complex flavors.
 
Cultivation and Harvesting
The coffee is cultivated by smallholder farmers who participate in Rwacof's farmer training program. This program focuses on empowering farmers by promoting sustainable practices and high-quality coffee production. During harvest, farmers selectively handpick ripe cherries and deliver them to the Macuba washing station for processing.
 
Processing Method
The Macuba Fully Washed coffee undergoes a meticulous processing method:
Flotation: All cherries are floated to remove low-density beans.
Hand sorting: High-density cherries are manually sorted to remove any visible defects.
Pulping: The cherries are then pulped using a disc pulper.
Fermentation: The pulped coffee undergoes dry fermentation for 20 to 24 hours.
Washing: After fermentation, the wet parchment is washed in clean water.
Drying: The washed parchment is sundried on tables in thin layers for an average of 22 days, with regular sifting to ensure even drying
 
Quality Control and Sustainability
RWACOF, Sucafina's partner in Rwanda, maintains strict quality controls throughout the post-harvest process. They also implement various sustainability initiatives, including:
 
A Farmer Development Program in partnership with the London School of Economics
Soil health initiatives
Seedling nurseries for farm renovation
Projects supporting gender equality and women's cooperatives
Financial literacy training and alternative income-generating activities
Environmental projects such as solar panel installations and carbon emission reduction efforts
 
Rwandan Coffee Context
Rwanda has become a darling of the specialty coffee world, known for its high-quality Arabica production. The country's coffee industry is primarily driven by smallholder farmers, with about 400,000 producers owning less than a quarter of a hectare each. Bourbon variety plants make up 95% of Rwanda's coffee trees.