Kinda Tastes Like strawberry, grape syrup, light honey, blueberry Country of Origin Rwanda Region West Nyamasheke (Lake Kivu area) Farm Various Smallholder Farms Producer Rwanda Trading Company (Mwito Washing Station) Processing Natural Variety Red Bourbon Elevation 1300-1400 masl We spent a lot of time trying to unlock this one. Chasing fruit, adjusting roast curves, pushing development, pulling it back… trying to find that expressive, juicy profile naturals are known for—but without the sharp, overwhelming acidity that can sometimes come with it. And then it clicked. The cup is incredibly clean for a natural—like, almost confusingly clean. Bright, vibrant sweetness shows up immediately (think strawberry and grape candy), but instead of leaning tart or punchy, it stays soft and balanced. No dryness, no harsh edges—just this smooth, rounded acidity that keeps everything feeling structured and easy to drink. It’s one of those coffees where the fruit is obvious, but the experience is calm. What really blew us away is how far we could take this coffee on the lighter end. Naturals can get grassy or underdeveloped if you push them too light—but this one never did. It just held together the whole time. Sweet, stable, and ready to go, no matter how we approached it. The result is something that feels both interesting and incredibly approachable: fruit-forward, clean, and quietly complex without trying too hard. A really special example of what a natural coffee can be when everything lines up. Region / Farm Info This coffee comes from the Mwito Washing Station in West Nyamasheke, located along the shores of Lake Kivu in Rwanda. Mwito was originally built in 2008 but struggled for years due to inconsistent funding and lack of long-term support for farmers. In 2017, Rwanda Trading Company (RTC) acquired the station and began operating it with a focus on stability, quality, and farmer support. Since then, farmers delivering to Mwito have been enrolled in RTC’s support programs, which provide agronomy training, improved processing infrastructure, and pathways toward certification. RTC has also invested directly into the community—building a kindergarten for farmers’ families and helping create more long-term economic stability. The coffee itself is a natural-processed Red Bourbon, dried on raised beds for 11–14 days, contributing to its sweetness and clarity in the cup.