Coffee from Congo - Lake Kivu, Ile Idjwi Island .

The history of Congolese coffee is a story of dreams destroyed by politics. The country, which exported more than 120,000 tons of excellent coffee per year in the 1980s, fell into a spiral of successive conflicts at the end of the century. As a result of successive wars, coffee exports fell to 8,800 tons. It is only in the 21st century that initiatives such as the Eastern Congo Initiative are slowly rebuilding the position of Congolese coffee on world markets. Congo is the second largest country in Africa and the largest of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The plateau around Lake Kivu, one of Africa's great lakes, provides exceptionally good conditions for growing coffee. Its high altitude provides thousands of small farms with excellent conditions for growing arabica in particular.

Coffee farmers are organised into cooperatives that not only take care of the buying and processing of coffee, but also educate farmers and constantly improve the quality of the coffee. The region grows the Yemeni variety of Burbon, known here as La Réunion, at an altitude of 1,500 meters above sea level. After harvesting, the top part of the coffee berry skin is removed by washing; after washing, the green coffee beans are dried in the sun.

The freshly roasted Congo Kivu coffee available in our coffee shop is roasted upon order and shipped no later than 24 hours after roasting. In its characteristics it is similar to the Kenyan coffee. If you think that Kenyan coffee is too strong (sharp, expressive) then Congo Kivu coffee will be a great alternative. Congo Kivu coffee is mild, it has a pleasant slightly citrus and spicy flavor with notes of fruit and cocoa.