Origin: Burega Sector, Rulindo District, Rwanda
Producer: Buliza Washing Station / Local Smallholders
Variety: Bourbon (Various Bourbon Types)
Process: Washed
Tasting Notes: Dark cocoa, dried prune, cherry cola, cinnamon, brown sugar, fig
Body & Acidity: Moderate body, moderate acidity
 
About the Farm
Buliza Washing Station sits in the Burega sector of Rulindo, one of Rwanda’s most renowned coffee-producing regions. Nestled at 1,790 meters above sea level and surrounded by steep, terraced hillsides, Buliza serves a network of smallholder farmers who cultivate traditional Bourbon varieties on family plots rarely exceeding one hectare.
Though new to our lineup this year, Buliza quickly distinguished itself through its disciplined use of classic, hands-on processing techniques. Buliza relies on a traditional 4-disc McKinnon pulper, followed by 12–18 hours of fermentation to break down the sticky fruit mucilage. After fermentation, coffee moves through long grading channels that naturally separate the densest seeds. It then spends several days drip-drying under shade canopies before transitioning to raised beds for slow, even drying in the sun.
 
The result of this methodical workflow is a washing station that honors heritage techniques while consistently delivering high-performing lots
 
About the Bean
This washed Bourbon lot is expressive and layered, showing the hallmark sweetness and clarity that define standout Rwandan coffees. The fragrance leans toward dried fruit and warm spice — dried prune, cinnamon sauce, and brown sugar — with a soft herbal-tea undertone. As the coffee opens up, dark sugar notes intensify, revealing caramelized aromatics and subtle woody spice in the background.
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In the cup, sweetness and very mild acidity weave together with precision. Brown sugar and demerara-like sweetness form the foundation, complemented by bright flashes of rich fruity character. As the coffee cools, its aromatic structure becomes more defined, highlighting accents of cherry cola, prune, citrus zest, and a gentle tea-tannic finish that adds grip. Deeper flavor tones echo dark cocoa, dried fig, and date, bringing depth without overshadowing the fruit character.
 
Altogether, this coffee exemplifies the strength of Rwanda’s high-elevation washed Bourbon: sweet, structured, and complex, with flavor clarity that continues to develop as the cup evolves.