Burundian Gishubi (Natural Process): sourced directly from the Long Miles Coffee Project (LMCP)’s Heza washing station via Specialty Coffee Exchange.
Burundi
Burundi is perfectly situated to grow quality coffee. It has an equatorial climate, most of the country is highland, and a significant amount of the coffee is grown in shade.
Although Burundi is a landlocked country, 10% of the country is water-based (thanks to lake Tanganyika). It has, however, taken Burundi coffee a while to really make it on to the big stage.
Thanks to endeavours like the Long Miles Coffee Project, things are slowly changing, especially since the reconstruction drive which started in 2006.
Long Miles Coffee Project
The Carlson family fell in love with Burundi during a visit. The long mile project channels their passion for coffee and belief that those involved in it should be rewarded appropriately. The mission of the project was to build a washing station allowing them to control the coffee quality while still rewarding the growers. Processing is well controlled and they have found a demand in the coffee market that has allowed the project to grow.
At Quaffee we have been talking to the people behind LMCP since early 2013 after being introduced to Ben Carlson, via a customer.
Gishibu, Burundi (Natural)
The Heza washing is the second washing station the LMP has built. This washing station is very remote, it has to be, to be close to the community that bring their coffee cherries to for processing at the washing station. Heza (which means “beautiful place” in Burundian) and was built as part of the Long Mile Project. Completed in April 2014 and it services 1876 farmers in the area. At the washing station, over thirty people are involved in the cherry selection and quality monitoring, and sixty women are dedicated to parchment curation and quality control.
At the washing station, 20% of the coffee is naturally processed a new method of processing in the area. Continuing this innovation they are the first to offer a honey processed coffee too.
Heza’s unique ‘bowl’ location provides natural air circulation and controls drying time. Coffee parchment spends two days on pre-drying tables before it is moved to traditional African raised tables. Heza station has 65 tables ranging in length and level; designed to regulate drying times. Parchment is removed from the drying tables when internal moisture reaches an optimal level of 11.5%. Commitment to the perfect moisture level means coffee spends 20-30 days slow-drying.
Details of coffee:
| Region: | Gitwe hill, Gishubi, Heza washing station, Kayanza province, Burundi. | |||||||||||||
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| Farmer/Lot: | This lot is 11192 from Gishubi. Crop 2017/18. | |||||||||||||
| Altitude grown: | 1960 meters above sea level (masl). | |||||||||||||
| Cultivar: | Arabica: Bourbon heirloom. | |||||||||||||
| Process: | Natural: Coffee is dried as a whole cherry; regularly hand tossed every until moisture is below 11.5% taking about 20-30 days. | |||||||||||||
| Characteristics: | A complex coffee with apricot and caramel aftertaste. A medium to full bodied coffee. | |||||||||||||
| Roast used: | Medium charge with flame as we charge, which is sustained through browning and just before first crack flame is reduced to minimum. | |||||||||||||
| Our brews: |
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| Note: | We are now offering 2 coffees from Long Miles Coffee Project, one at the Vineyard too. |
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