Ugandan Nyabirongo Natural Lot 1 coffee

This Ugandan Nyabirongo was sourced via Zuka Green. This is only the second Ugandan specialty coffee we at Quaffee have ever offered.

A Short History of Coffee in Uganda

Coffee plays a central role in Uganda’s agricultural and economic identity. Robusta coffee originates in Uganda, where farmers have cultivated it for generations, making it a cornerstone of the country’s coffee industry. Later, farmers introduced Arabica varieties, particularly on the slopes of Mount Elgon and the Rwenzori Mountains, where higher altitudes favour their growth. As Uganda’s coffee sector developed, farmers transformed it into the nation’s leading export crop, employing millions and significantly contributing to foreign exchange earnings. Moreover, Ugandans integrated coffee into their culture, with smallholder farmers producing the majority of it. Nevertheless, Ethiopia often overshadows Uganda’s strong production base, since global specialty markets recognise Ethiopia more widely. Ethiopia remains Africa’s largest producer of coffee, yet Uganda holds the position as the continent’s largest exporter.

Ugandan Coffee Processing

Processing shapes Uganda’s coffee profile. One distinctive method, Drugar—short for Dry Ugandan Arabica—relies on drying whole cherries under the sun, a technique farmers have practised for generations. Farmers reserve the term Drugar for commercial-grade Arabica coffees, which they bulk together and sell under that name. In contrast, when farmers apply the same dry method to specialty-grade Arabica, they market the coffees as “naturals,” highlighting their higher quality and more carefully managed processing

Ugandan Nyabirongo Natural

This lot of coffee comes from Agri Evolve.

Agri Evolve

Agri Evolve has worked with farmers in Uganda’s Rwenzori region since 2018, supporting them to improve their production of speciality Arabica coffee. As a result, buyers now recognise their coffee as some of the finest in East Africa. Both Natural and Washed coffees from the region show a clean profile, balanced structure, good body, and vibrant fruity notes. Building on this success, Agri Evolve established its own factory at Nyabirongo in 2022. With wet mill and dry mill facilities in place, the company controls the entire production process—from the arrival of freshly harvested cherries to the grading, packing, and dispatch of finished green beans to markets worldwide.

Nyabirongo Community

Nyabirongo, just outside the town of Kisinga, hosts the Agri Evolve Coffee Station. Rising majestically in western Uganda, the Rwenzori Mountains—also known as the “Mountains of the Moon”—stretch over 120 kilometers and reach heights of more than 5,100 meters. Within this landscape, smallholder farmers grow their coffee along the mountain’s fertile slopes, where they harness rich soils and a unique climate to produce high-quality coffee.

Details of this coffee

First, farmers handpick the coffee and deliver it to rural collection centres in Kalingwe and Buzira. Next, Agri Evolve collects the red cherry from these centres and transports it to its Central Coffee Mill in Nyabirongo. There, workers float, sort, and dry the cherries on raised African beds. After the coffee dries, the team hulls and grades it in the state-of-the-art facility. Finally, they standardise and pack the coffee, preparing it for export. Our tasting notes are red peach, strawberries, cocoa with a molasses finish.

Transparency Information

Sources:

• International Coffee Organisation – Uganda country profile.
• Uganda Coffee Development Authority – History and production notes.
• Coffee Quality Institute – Processing terminology and standards.
• Agri Evolve – website.