Origin: Burundi

Washing Station; Izuba Mugoyi

Region: Runinya, Kayanza Province

Variety: Red Bourbon

Altitude: 1500-1700 MASL

Process: Anoxic Water Pillow Natural

“ Papaya | Poached Pear | Chamomile.”

We have partnered with Raw Materials to bring you an absolutely beautiful direct trade coffee from Burundi.

Raw Material is a social enterprise that maximises producer profits through the coffee we buy. In Burundi, they work to secure higher profits for both coffee producers and employees of station staff alike.

Raw Material processes and exports coffee from Burundi. The construction of a centralised washing station (not seen in all coffee producing countries) serves as a nucleus within a community. This localised position in a community benefits producers by distributing needed agricultural products, supporting the local community through funds, staff, and construction where needed. Raw Material create wide-reaching community benefits through and beyond the production and sale of their coffee.

Once cherries are received, they are hand-picked and floated to ensure only those of the best quality continue to the processing stage. These cherries are placed into a deep cleaned fermentation tank, which is hermetically sealed. Fresh cool water is then poured on top of sealed coffee. The seal created by the water pressing onto the sheeting creates a vacuum effect on the coffee below, creating an anoxic environment for fermentation to begin, which lasts for between 48 and 72 hours. 

The water and sheet act as not only a sealant, but a heat exchange, allowing the heat build up to transfer to the water, which evaporates away. A stabilised temperature of around 25 degrees Celsius ensures that the cherry doesn’t over ferment. This temperature is regularly monitored, and if it falls too low for fermentation to continue, hot water is added to the water pillow, to provide warmth to the fermenting coffee underneath.

Once the fermentation is complete, the water is drained, and the sheet is removed. The now fermented coffee is rinsed

What to expect in your cup? Papaya, Poached Pear, Chamomille & Rosehip