New 2018/19 crop – after not being able to source some good Burundi coffees last year we finally found two winning lots. Complex as can be, this is a cup that screams African.
Burundi Buzira-Muruta Natural is sourced from family-owned farms organized around the Coffee Processing Company (CPC), which was established in 2010 by Salum Ramadhan who was born and raised in the Kayanza province, Burundi. Salum operates four washing stations in Kayanza. All four stations reflect Salum’s passion for coffee and his commitment to his community. Lots are meticulously separated and fully traceable to harvest date and washing station. Each lot is classified through a strict protocol that includes hand sorting and floating the cherry.
Salum pays well above the government minimum for cherry and pays farmers extra to sort cherry. He also encourages the farmers to keep and process unused cherry for personal consumption or to sell in the local market. Salum has a nursery program to distribute seedlings to farmers. He has also been paying to build additional classrooms to alleviate problems with overcrowding in the schools.
Tasting Notes:
This unique cup features pleasant but not over the top red fruit tones balanced with an herbal spice chocolate finish. At a lighter roast this cup is pretty bright, which adds a great depth of flavor. Medium roasts and beyond really mute the acidity and allow the chocolate undertones to break through. Even though at a lighter roast this cup is on the brighter end of the spectrum, it is nowhere near as acidic as the washed processed version. This medium to full bodied cup is smooth with a slight creaminess that leaves you with a wonderfully complex aftertaste.
Roasting Notes:
Unlike the washed processed, this is not a dark roast coffee. All the jazz and cool defined tones will be before 2nd crack. Lighter gave more exotic red fruit and a little hint of acidity, darker (close but not into 2nd crack) gave a much more chocolaty cup profile with just a little hint of red fruit. We all thought the lighter roasts were the best, darker although tasty turned it a little plain and too flat.
Burundi Buzira-Muruta
Burundi Buzira-Muruta
