Kilimbi, Natural - Rwanda

The Kilimbi Washing Station is located spectacularly on the eastern shore of Lake Kivu in Rwanda’s Western Province. It was the first washing station to be established by the young and innovative Muraho Trading Company (MTC) whose focus is on quality, and showcasing Rwanda’s great potential for high-grade speciality coffee.

Since building Kilimbi in March 2016, MTC has gone on to establish the Gisheke, Rugali, Shyira, Vunga and Bumbogo washing stations, and we look forward to exploring all that they have to offer with you over the coming months and years. But right now, it’s time for Kilimbi to take the spotlight with this stunning natural bourbon.

Kilimbi was the first washing station in Rwanda to be granted approval to produce natural and honey processed coffees, and its has set the bar in this respect. This year 1078 farmers in the surrounding area delivered their coffee to Kilimbi. The coffee is hand sorted, then floated to separate out under-ripe or damaged cherries. It is then pulped, and hand-sorted again to remove any visually under-ripe cherries before being laid out to dry on raised beds.

The quality of the processing is evident in the cup. The coffee is is incredibly clean and bursting with fruit flavour. We think it tastes like sour cherry, raspberry jam and nectarine - in short, lip-smackingly delicious.