Nemba Intenso from the Warsaw-based roastery Trigger is one of those coffees that will surprise you in the cup—but in a pleasant way. It’s a rich and fruity Burundi whose flavor profile extends far beyond what one would expect from a classic washed coffee. The base consists of sweet plum jam and strawberries, complemented by fresh gooseberries, which lend the entire cup brightness and vibrancy. The flavor is clean and layered, with a long finish in which the fruity notes gradually alternate and unfold. Although the coffee is complex and distinctive, it remains balanced and easy to drink, and at Trigger, they themselves consider it one of the most interesting Burundis they’ve ever roasted. It shines brightest when brewed with a filter, where its sweetness and acidity come through in full force.
The coffee comes from the Nemba washing station in Kayanza Province in northern Burundi, where 1,074 smallholder farmers bring their coffee cherries. Their farms are located at an elevation of around 1 ,700 meters above sea level near the Kibila Forest, where the cooler mountain climate allows the cherries to ripen slowly and develop a pronounced sweetness. Kayanza is one of the country’s most important coffee-growing regions, and it is the source of many of Burundi’s finest lots. The Red Bourbon variety is grown here, prized for its natural sweetness and juiciness.
The coffee undergoes a washed processing method with controlled fermentation using yeast. After hulling, it ferments for approximately 96 hours with the LALCAFÉ INTENSO™ yeast strain, which was developed specifically for this coffee over four years of research. The extended fermentation with yeast significantly enhances the coffee’s complexity, acidity, and floral character, while the cup retains the clarity and structure you’d expect from a washed coffee. After fermentation, the beans are washed, sorted by density, and dried on raised beds under careful supervision for 10 to 14 days. Once you get your hands on this coffee, Trigger has two tips: for a clean and bright flavor, they recommend brewing with a V60 or Chemex. For a fuller body and more pronounced fruitiness, try using an Aeropress.
- Processing Station: Nemba
- Elevation: 1,700 m above sea level