Rwanda HUYE MOUNTAIN

by David Rubanzangabafrom the German roastery Ordinary Coffee Roasters is a coffee that feels lively, juicy, and very elegant. The very first whiff evokes fresh orange zest, which adds a crisp citrus sparkle to the cup. The flavor then fully unfolds with sweet cherry, which feels juicy and slightly“candy-like,” with a pleasant fruity sweetness. As the coffee cools, notes of ripe blueberries begin to emerge, softening the entire profile and adding depth. The body is light to medium, the acidity lively but beautifully balanced. The aftertaste is clean, refreshing, and long, with a lingering combination of citrus and berry notes. The result is a cup that feels fresh, clean, and very harmonious.

Behind this coffee is David Rubanzangabo, one of the pioneers of specialty coffee in Rwanda. He began his journey in 1999 as an agronomist for the National Coffee Board and later joined the Pearl project, which helped shape Rwanda’s specialty coffee scene. In 2012, he founded his own washing station, Huye Mountain, where he began producing high-quality organic coffee—and in that very same year, he won 2nd place in the Cup of Excellence. Today, he collaborates with farmers from seven growing zones, providing them with support and fair purchase prices. Cherries from smallholder farmers are collected at collection points and then sent for processing at the station, where the emphasis is on quality, transparency, and long-term cooperation.

Processing is done using the washed method. After harvest, the cherries are washed and pulped. They then ferment overnight, followed by a final soaking in water for 5 to 6 hours, which helps achieve a cleaner result. The parchment coffee is then sorted and dried on African beds for approximately 7 to 14 days until it reaches optimal moisture content. Thanks to this meticulous process, a very clean and complex cup is produced that reflects the character of the individual micro-regions. David also continuously invests in quality—for example, by building his own dry mill, which gives him full control over the entire post-harvest processing.