Known as the "Heart of Africa", Burundi is a land-locked and resource poor country. Their predominately agricultural economy employs more than 90% of the population, with its primary exports being coffee and tea - making coffee the heart of Burundi, providing hope for a better future.   A relative newcomer to the specialty coffee world, Burundi's coffee production started in the 1930's and was privatized in 2009. Primarily comprised of small-holder farms, each farm averages 100 to 200 coffee trees.   Greenco Burundi carefully manages the coffee cherry selection, processing and export of coffee at several washing stations, including the...

Muungano means “togetherness” in Swahili, a principle epitomized by the nearly 4,400 smallholder farms in this cooperative. Founded in 2009, Muungano coop is almost half female, many of whom were widowed by war.  Gender justice is a key focus of the members, and they work closely with the Gender Action Learning Systems (GALS) to highlight the work of women. Muungano Cooperative is known for the sweet, bright and complex coffees they produce every year. Certified Fair Trade and 100% organic, this coffee tied for third in a tasting of women-produced coffees for Coffee Review’s June 2017 tasting report.  Why we...