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Burundi Nzove Washing Station
Nzove is the name of a private washing station / wet mill in Ngozi province in extreme Northern Burundi, near the border with Rwanda, where this coffee is collected and processed. In Burundi all coffee is processed and sold at the washing station. It's where washed coffee processing takes place - skin removal, fermentation and sun drying. The beans themselves, grown exclusively by small area farmers, are all Bourbon or Bourbon varietal derivatives such as Jackson and Mibirzi. The washing station is at 1763 meters, about 5800 feet; the coffee is grown at roughly the same altitude. Established in 1993, Nzove Washing Station processes coffee on behalf of 2340 local, very small farmers. It is located 10 miles from the nearest paved road.
The overall quality of the coffee in Burundi, particularly in the northwestern hills, is high and improving steadily as premiums are being paid to farmer members of each washing station. Natural conditions also augur well for growing top coffee as there is volcanic soil and mist covered mountains, all set almost astride the equator - Nzove is less than 3 degrees south latitude so it is nearly on the equator. Since coffee marketing legislation was enacted in 2008, direct sales contracts became permitted between Burundian producers and international coffee buyers, roasters and importers. Further, the legislation permits the payment of a quality premium to those responsible for producing "specialty" coffee (producers, washing station management teams and dry millers). Coffee must be harvested only when ripe and be processed promptly. This follows a similar model in Rwanda where coffee quality has also seen major improvement in recent years.
In Burundi the majority of coffee is grown by subsistence farmers. In fact, about 800,000 families in this small country of only 9 million people, grow or are involved with coffee; it accounts for 80 percent of Burundi's export revenue.. Almost all of it is Arabica and of the Bourbon varietal. Farmers grow crops for their own food supply but also grow some cash crops, such as coffee. Most farms have between 50 and 250 trees, only enough to a couple of sacks of coffee in total. The coffee, once picked, has to be rushed to a local washing station, in this case one located in Ngozi.
Selected lots can be had, often without pedigree, but with a very sophisticated palate - a terrific situation for savvy consumers. Great quality at attractive prices. This coffee cups in the same style as a quality Kenya AA, owing in large measure to its varietal Bourbon and similar climate, altitude and soil conditions.
Cup Characteristics: Aroma: Raspberry, cinnamon. Flavor: Dark chocolate, cocoa, raspberry. Very clean and succulent. Very substantial body and smooth texture. Acidity: Red apple. Very sweet, complex with a lingering white wine finish. Very classy Bourbon character and extremely well balanced.
Quantity in Basket:none
Price per pound : $13.99
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