Bright red apple, cranberry, and kiwifruit with lifted acidity, balanced sweetness, and a juicy mouthfeel. On a trip to Rwanda, Matt and the crew fell in love with Faustin Ribilimana’s coffee at the cupping table. After visiting Faustin, his wife Judith, and their farm (including three cows), they were thrilled to bring this incredible coffee home. Faustin Ribilimana has spent more than 40 years mastering the art of coffee cultivation, a tradition passed down through his family. Starting with a plot of land inherited from his parents, he gradually expanded his farm. Alongside his wife, Judith Kankera, he has raised six children on their land, where coffee is a way of life. Since 2003, Faustin has been a proud member of the Dukunde Kawa cooperative, an organisation established in 2000. Dukunde Kawa now manages three washing stations—Ruli, Nkara, and Mbilima—where Faustin delivers his carefully grown coffee cherries for processing. This cooperative has become a lifeline for smallholder farmers like Faustin, helping them thrive in Rwanda’s competitive coffee industry. Most of Dukunde Kawa’s members farm less than a quarter of a hectare, using their land to cultivate 250–300 coffee trees, along with essential subsistence crops like maize and beans. By selling their cherries to the cooperative, farmers can pool their harvests, creating quantities large enough for export and ensuring their hard work reaches the international market. Beyond coffee processing, Dukunde Kawa provides its members with vital support, offering agronomy training, access to fertilisers, organic pesticides, and resources to help sustain their farms and families. This cooperative model strengthens the local community while producing some of Rwanda’s finest coffee.
