This is a clean natural Rwandan coffee from a women’s group of 60 female producers.

It was sourced through Sucafina, and came by recommendation from my friend Tash who we also sourced the popular Kenyan coffee this year from Hanner Wanjiku.

Cupped blind alongside many other Rwandan coffees this coffee stood out because of the clean and sweet characteristics.  

Being a single mother in patriarchal society like Rwanda is quite challenging and they frequently face a lot of stigma, isolation and depression. In order to support single mothers, Baho Coffee Company (the exporters) initiated a solidarity group where single mothers could join together over coffee farming and also find friendship and hope. 

The women chose the name “Ikizere” for their group because it means “hope” in Kinyarwanda and that is what they felt the group represented.  

Ikizere women’s group meets regularly to share their experiences, learn from each other and their successes. Baho supports the women with training in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), coffee cultivation and high-quality processing. Baho also provides training in other skills including financial literacy, weaving and animal husbandry to help women diversify their income and be successful.  

Through Baho, Ikizere members receive good prices for their cherry and are able to market their coffee as women-produced, which adds value for growers and roasters alike. Members receive price premiums for their high-quality coffee and their women-produced status. The women also receive health care and short-term loans for family needs and Baho helped build a source of clean drinking water in their community that everyone can access.  

Ikizere has become so successful, that married women are now requesting to join the group so that they can access the benefits the single mothers in the group now have. Ikizere’s single mothers have chosen to share their successes and have welcomed other women into their group.  

Suitable for - Cafetiere, Filter, Aeropress

Notes / Peach, Tropical Fruits and Caramel

Producer / 60 Women farmers delivering to Fugi Washing Station

Region / Nyaruguru, Southern Province

Altitude / 1,550 to 1,850 MASL

Variety / Bourbon

Process / Natural