Producing coffees ranging from soft, floral, and sweet citrus to chocolate and nutty, Burundi offers fewer distinct regional flavor profiles, but its diverse coffees capture the interest of specialty companies.
Burundi has only been growing coffee since the 1930s, and it took some time for its specialty coffees to reach the connoisseurs' radar. The coffee sector has faced political instability and climate challenges, and with Burundi being a landlocked country, it is difficult to deliver coffee to international buyers without quality specifications suffering significantly.
Robusta grows in a few small areas, but the majority of the crop is Arabica – washed Bourbon, Jackson or Mibirizi, grown mostly organically because funds for chemical fertilizers or pesticides have not been available.
There are about 600,000 small farmers with 200-300 trees each, who normally grow other food crops or keep animals. Growers deliver to washing stations. These stations are members of Sogestals – management companies that deal with transport and commercial aspects.
BURUNDI KEY FACTS
PERCENTAGE OF THE WORLD MARKET 0,14%
HARVEST February-June
PROCESS Washed, mostly
MAIN TYPES 96% Arabica Bourbon, Jackson, Mibirizi, 4% Robusta
WORLD RANKING AS A MANUFACTURER on the 30th place
Burundi mainly grows Bourbon, which was introduced to the island of Reunion by French missionaries.
Cafea Burundi Mumirwa
This Sogestal is located in the west, in the Kumugaruro Mountains, southwest of Kihira National Park. The high altitudes provide perfect conditions for growing coffee.
Cafea Burundi Kirimiro
Close to Gitega in the center of the country, the areas covered by this Sogestal have washing stations at the highest altitude in Burundi.
Cafea Burundi Kayanza
The Kayanza region is located in northern Burundi, which is close to the border with Rwanda. The coffee beans here are traditionally of very high quality.
Cafea Burundi Ngozi
The northern region of Ngozi province has been one of the major successes of Burundi's specialty coffee industry over the past decade. Despite, or perhaps because of, their distance from any major city, the coffee growers of Ngozi are known for their innovation, tenacity, and spirit. The coffee beans grown on small family farms are sold at the washing stations (Ex: Mubuga Washing Station) where they are processed and graded with meticulous care.
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