Rwanda - MWITO Lot 517

This exquisite Rwandan coffee is a shining example of how natural processing can bring out both vibrancy and balance in the cup. Sourced from the Mwito Washing Station in West Nyamasheke, this lot of Red Bourbon is grown at 1,347 meters above sea level and dried slowly on raised beds for 11–14 days to develop rich, fruit-forward complexity.

The first sip opens with a playful sweetness—strawberry wafer—that lingers on the palate. As the cup cools, it unfolds into vibrant red stone fruit notes, reminiscent of ripe cherries and juicy plums, offering refreshing acidity and layered depth. A subtle roasted almond finish brings warmth and balance, grounding the sweetness with soft, toasty richness.

This is a cup that evolves beautifully as you drink it—invigorating in brightness, comforting in depth, and endlessly rewarding for specialty coffee lovers seeking something both dynamic and refined.

The Story Behind the Cup

The Mwito Washing Station operates with the support of the Rwanda Trading Company, an organization committed to economic sustainability, traceability, and farmer empowerment. Mwito serves hundreds of smallholder farmers from surrounding communities, offering centralized processing and quality control—crucial steps in bringing coffees like this to the specialty market.

Rwanda’s coffee industry is built on high elevations, volcanic soil, and meticulous hand-sorting—a combination that yields remarkably clean and expressive profiles. Natural processing, while more labor-intensive, has become increasingly favored by producers at Mwito for its ability to highlight sweetness, florals, and fruit clarity in the cup.