Rwanda: Gatare 2024

Rwanda is blessed with ideal coffee growing conditions that include high altitude, regular rainfall, volcanic soils with good organic structure. The vast majority of Rwandan coffee is produced by smallholders. About half a million farmers manage parcels of land often not much larger than just one hectare per family. Coffee is grown in most parts of the country, with particularly large concentrations along Lake Kivu and in the southern province. Rwandan smallholders organise themselves into cooperatives and share the services of centralised wet-mills – or ‘washing stations’ as they are known locally. By entering into long-term commitments, our supplier is committed to support sustainable coffee cultivation in Rwanda.

Gatare is one of the oldest washing stations in Rwanda, and started in 2003. It has a strong reputation for high-quality coffee. Located in the Nyamasheke district of Western Province, the station is surrounded by the mountains on which the coffee plants grow. The station is 3km away from their sister station nearby the Mutovu River, but you are surrounded by the sound of running water, birds and the nearby village of Gatare that echoes across the valley where the processing station is located at 1850 masl (meters above sea level). The station has also successfully participated in the 'cup of excellence' several times.

 The station's manager, Fred, has been working there since it became the property of the RTC (Rwanda Trading Company) in 2016. 

Although the site only covers 2 hectares, it processed 1,000 tons of coffee cherries until 2017. Due to the increasing number of small processing stations in the area, annual production is decreasing. Production in 2023 was projected around 400 tons.

The station employs 7 full-time employees and 90 seasonal workers, 80% of whom are women. The small farmers in the area often only have 1 hectare. Some only have 10 coffee plants among the other crops. Nevertheless, all farmers who currently supply Gatare have been trained by RTC on cultivation techniques to get the best out of their plants.

Details:

• Variety: Red Bourbon, 100% Arabica
• Altitude: 1800m
• Processing: washed
• Notes: Peach, orange zest, complex sour cherries, rich.
• Quantity: 250 gr or 500 gr beans
• Our coffee bags are 100% recyclable, produced CO2-neutral and can be disposed of in the plastic waste (in Belgium: PMD-bag). Also check out our CoffeeVac containers, which we sell to shop without the use of packaging from us. When using this system (only possible for pick up- or personal delivery-orders), you earn a discount (saver-system) of 1€ per ordered 250gr/150gr coffee beans.
• These beans are roasted on 100% green energy (solar + wind).
  
  

Foremost, we choose to supply beans. After 15 minutes the aromas of ground coffee are gone. We can grind on request, but it is not something we offer as standard. More info you can find on our blog!

On our website you can discover our range of manual and electric grinders .