It is extremely rare to be able to get a coffee that is traceable back to a single producer in Rwanda, so we feel extremely fortunate to be able to share this special micro-lot from Philippe Sinoyobye.
Most of the coffees we source from Rwanda are traceable back to a washing station, or sometimes a farmer group. Most washing stations in Rwanda receive cherry from hundreds (and sometimes thousands) of farmers who own very small plots of land – on average less than a quarter hectare, with just 300-600 coffee trees. Separation of such tiny lots is expensive and impractical, so the large majority of coffees are processed as a mixed lot from multiple producers. Typically, lots are separated as day lots (ie. cherries that were all picked on the same day) rather than by a single farm or producer group.
Single producer micro-lots like this one are not common. In this case, it is made possible due to the size of Philippe’s farm, which totals 0.7 hectares and some 2000 coffee trees (making it over double the average size farm). Philippe is also a member of the Abahuzamugambi Ba Kawa Maraba cooperative, who own their own dry mill where they can process smaller lots individually, whilst minimising cost and maintaining excellent quality standards.
The farm sits at 1,800 meters above sea level and is managed by Philippe with the help of his wife. In total, they produce around 6,000kg of cherry each year. Philippe’s coffee is processed at the nearby Kabuye washing station.
