Do you know that feeling when you come home to the warmth after a chilly winter walk and make yourself something delicious to warm up? This washed Rwanda from Not Another Boring Roastery brings exactly that festive coziness. Instead of intense bitterness, your cup will be filled with a delicate base of peach tea and the warming sweetness of honey—an essential part of the Christmas season. A handful of sweet-and-tart raspberries adds a lively touch. The coffee has a clean flavor and will be the perfect companion whether you’re wrapping gifts or relaxing quietly by the tree.
In western Rwanda lies the mountainous region of Nyamasheke, where this festive lot—labeled Kirambo 339—originates. Coffee trees here grow at an elevation of 1,545 meters. This lot consists exclusively of the traditional Red Bourbon variety, which is typical of Rwanda and, under local conditions, imparts a natural sweetness and fruity character to the beans. The favorable climate and the farmers’ meticulous work are reflected in the final quality rating, in which this coffee scored a high 86.5 points.
The clean flavors of peach tea, raspberries, and honey are the result of the classic washed processing method. After being hand-picked, the ripe cherries pass through a hulling machine, which removes the outer skin. The beans then ferment in water tanks, where the remaining sticky pulp is naturally released. After being thoroughly rinsed with clean water, the coffee is slowly dried until it reaches optimal moisture content. The roastery then roasted these beans to a filter-friendly profile to preserve the light tea-like character in the cup and enhance the warm, honeyed sweetness that’s perfect for winter days.
- Elevation: 1,545 m above sea level