This organic fully washed 'Kivu 3' lot is from Hutwe washing station in North Kivu, one of 8 such stations operated by Virunga Coffee Company, set up by Schluter Ltd. (now Covoya Europe) in 2012 to produce specialty coffees in eastern DRC and improve livelihoods for smallholder farmers in the region. Hutwe works with over 600 farmers in South Kivu, who cultivate at altitudes between 1,750 and 2,000masl.
Hutwe village is located in the Kirumba region of Nord-Kivu (North of Lake Kivu), on the edge of Virunga National Park, bordered by Uganda to the east. The region has excellent conditions for speciality arabica production with plentiful rainfall, high altitude and highly fertile volcanic soils. The region is also very poverty-stricken and has had a severe lack of infrastructure which has made high quality arabica both difficult to produce and very challenging to export. Virunga Coffee Company has sought to overcome many of these problems through hands-on farmer education and investment in local infrastructure such as roads and bridges. This has allowed quality improvements every season and, in turn, higher premiums for farmers.
Country of Origin
Democratic Republic of Congo
Harvest Season
2021/22
Coffee Grade
DRC CA WA KIVU G3 SD
Bag Type
Grain Pro / Ecotact
Plant Species
Arabica
Processing
Honey Processed
Variety
Bourbon
Region
North Kivu
Farm Name
Various smallholders
Certifications
Organic certified
History of Coffee in DR Congo
Although commercial production of green coffee did not begin in Congo in any meaningful way until the end of the nineteenth century, Robusta has been known to grow wild throughout the region for so long that 100 years ago Robusta was sometimes called “Congo coffee” regardless of where it was grown. In 1895, a well-known botanist, professor Lament, toured the country and declared it so suitable for growing coffee that it could become a “second Brazil," and Arabica plantings increased dramatically. By 1905, half a million coffee plants were under cultivation and exports reached 41 tons.
Growing Coffee in DR Congo
Traditionally a Robusta producer, in recent years, Arabica from the highland areas has begun to attract attention from specialty coffee roasters. With development commitments from large roasters and quality development assistance from coffee traders like Schluter (now Olam Specialty Coffee Europe), DR Congo is now on the specialty coffee map. Washing stations have appeared in every growing region over the last five years and the country has hosted cupping events.
