Spezial / Mbare, Rwanda

Kirunga means "Volcano" in Kinyarwanda, the national language of Rwanda. This coffee was processed at Rwamatamu's Mbare washing station, situated in Muhanga, Southern Province. Once it arrives, the cherries are sorted by hand before being pulped and left to ferment in water for 12-48 hours. During this time, the mucilage of the cherry is broken down, and when fermentation is finished, the coffee is washed clean so it can be spread out to dry on raised beds for 21 or 22 days depending on the weather. It then gets taken to the milling facilities in Kigali, where the coffee is dehusked, polished and graded.

Rwamatamu is a family-owned coffee producer that was established in 2015 by husband and wife team Rytaganda Gaston and Mukantwaza Laeticia. Community is huge for Rwamatamu, and as such the team have strong relationships with the farmers in Nymasheke and Mbare that they work with. Beyond that though, the team also run community groups in both of these locations.

In Nymasheke is the women's Co-operative, where Rwamatamu have purchased land and provided seedlings and training for local women interested in coffee production. The women cultivate and sell coffee back to Rwamtamu, providing an alternative income source outside of seasonal employment, fostering long-term financial stability for the women in the valley.

In Mbare, a similar project is being run as a Youth Association with locals age 18-35. This is to encourage the interest and skills of younger generations in coffee farming.