Our second Rwanda release this year is a washed process coffee from Mbilima CWS. This lot was also produced through the Soil Project.

The Soil Project is a sustainable initiative where farmers create their own compost using coffee pulp—a byproduct of coffee production—and use it to grow coffee seedlings. It was launched in 2023, when ONIBUS COFFEE visited the region and helped start the project. This coffee comes from the second harvest since the Soil Project was established as a designated lot.

Mbilima CWS, like Nkara CWS, is managed by the Dukunde Kawa Musasa Cooperative and is located in the Gakenke District in northern Rwanda. The sweetness is reminiscent of Nkara, with a full, juicy character like red apple and satsuma mandarin. In addition, what stands out in this Mbilima lot is a floral aroma reminiscent of Assam tea that lingers through the finish.

The harmony between the floral tea-like notes and the juicy fruit character creates a beautifully balanced cup. To highlight this balance, we kept the roast on the lighter side, avoiding excessive development.

We hope you enjoy experiencing the terroir of Rwanda through this coffee, together with Nkara.

Meet the Roasters：Rwanda Mbilima Soil Project

The Dukunde Kawa Musasa Cooperative operates three washing stations, one of which is Mbilima. The Mbilima Washing Station began operations in 2007 and processes cherries delivered by 616 farmers in the surrounding area. The cherries are grown across 72 hectares of land and have received multiple international organic certifications.

Coffee trees are typically planted at intervals of 2 to 2.5 meters, with around 2,500 trees cultivated per hectare. Most producers are smallholder farmers, each managing an average of about 200 coffee trees.

Upon delivery, cherries are first sorted on African drying tables, followed by flotation to remove lower-density cherries. After pulping, density sorting using water is carried out thoroughly to eliminate defects as much as possible.

Hand-sorting continues throughout the drying stage, and the parchment coffee is sun-dried for approximately 24 days, depending on weather conditions.

Through these meticulous processes, coffee from Mbilima is produced in high-altitude hills above 2,000 meters, shaped by the care and dedication of the farmers. Harvests are carefully separated into small lots by picking date, ensuring consistency and traceability.

Coffee from Mbilima has earned recognition in the Cup of Excellence, with two lots placing in 2018. The cooperative as a whole has also received CoE awards in 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2018.

To maintain the highest quality of Bourbon variety coffee, each farmer strictly manages cherry ripeness. At the washing station, strict quality control is applied at every stage—from hand-sorting and washing to fermentation, grading, and drying—before the coffee is prepared for export to the international market.

The Dukunde Kawa Musasa Cooperative was established in 2000 in the Gakenke District of northern Rwanda. “Dukundekawa” means “we love coffee” in the local language, while “Musasa” refers to the name of the area.

The cooperative is made up of around 300 farmers, approximately 20% of whom are women. Located near Gorilla Mountain—an area known for its mountain gorillas—the region’s rich natural environment provides ideal conditions for producing high-quality Bourbon coffee.

Across all of its washing stations, the cooperative applies rigorous sorting and processing standards, with strict quality control maintained all the way through to shipment at the on-site dry mill. Another defining feature of Dukunde Kawa is its careful lot management, with coffee separated by harvest date.

In recent years, the cooperative has also established a cafe at a scenic location within its facilities, creating barista positions and offering new opportunities for employment and income outside of the harvest season. It also serves as a space to showcase Rwandan coffee to both domestic and international visitors. These ongoing efforts and well-developed facilities contribute to the consistently high quality of their coffee.

The cooperative holds international certifications such as Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade. Through Fairtrade, it works to improve farmers’ livelihoods while promoting the development of an economically and environmentally sustainable coffee industry. In recognition of its quality, the cooperative was awarded 2nd place in the Rwanda Cup of Excellence in 2010.

Meet the producers：Dukunde Kawa, Musasa Cooperative