MBILIMA, Rwanda
GRAPE JAM | ALMOND BUTTER
Region: Gakenke, Northern Province
Producer: Dukunde Kawa Musasa Cooperative
Altitude: 2200 meters
Varietal: Bourbon
Process: Natural
Mbilima is a vibrant natural-processed Bourbon from Rwanda’s Northern Province, offering a rich, fruit-forward profile balanced by a smooth, nutty sweetness. Notes of grape jam bring depth and intensity, while almond butter adds a creamy, rounded finish.
About the Cooperative
Dukunde Kawa Musasa is a standout example of a community-driven cooperative. Founded in 2003, it now supports nearly 2,000 smallholder farmers, around 80% of whom are women. Located about 50 km north of Kigali, the cooperative operates in a mountainous region where access can take over two and a half hours by road.
This is our second year working with Dukunde Kawa Musasa, in partnership with One Acre Fund, who helped connect us with this coffee. Relationships like these are central to how we source, built over time, with a focus on transparency, quality, and long-term impact.
Sustainability is central to their work. Water used in processing is reused, and farmers are encouraged to plant shade trees alongside coffee, each seedling distributed comes with a companion tree. The cooperative also provides financial support through a savings and low-interest loan system, helping farmers invest in their land and livelihoods.
Fairtrade certified since 2005, Dukunde Kawa has used premium funds to support health insurance, agronomy training, and income diversification projects, including providing cows to members. These cows contribute both natural fertilizer and additional income through milk production, which is processed locally through the Musasa Milk project.
This year, we had the opportunity to meet the cooperative’s president, Ernest, at World of Coffee. He struck us as incredibly humble and deeply committed, not only to quality, but to uplifting and advocating for the farmers he represents. That care and intention show up clearly in the cup.
About Mbilima Washing Station
Established in 2005, Mbilima washing station was created to support farmers in the village of Akanduga (locally known as Rubyiniro). Sitting at 2,020 meters above sea level, it is one of the highest washing stations in Rwanda and produces certified organic coffees.
Mbilima works with around 900 farmers across 70 hectares and employs approximately 120 seasonal workers, 95% of whom are women. Most farmers deliver freshly harvested cherries by hand, often carrying them on their heads to local collection points before transport by motorcycle to the station within hours of picking.
Annual production ranges from 450 to 650 metric tons of cherry, resulting in 4–5 containers of exportable green coffee each year.
Processing
At Mbilima, cherries are carefully sorted by density before processing. While the station produces washed, honey, and anaerobic coffees, this lot is a natural processed. Whole cherries are dried slowly on raised beds, one of 120 at the station, over 25 to 60 days depending on weather conditions. This extended drying period contributes to the coffee’s concentrated fruit character and syrupy sweetness.