Burundi / Karuzi Ubuto
Regular price
$20.00
"Ubuto" means "young" in the local Kirundi language; truly an apt name for this coffee! Crisp and fresh with citrus acidity balancing deeper toffee and chocolate notes, this coffee comes from newly-planted Bourbon trees tended by young farmers in the province of Karuzi, itself a newcomer in Burundian terroir. Its youth and density support a dark roast profile which, through air-roasting, we achieve without the usual bitterness, making this a great option for espresso and other milk-based preparations.
JNP Coffee, our sourcing partner for this lot, is a small but influential exporter working exclusively in Burundi. Company founder Jeanine Niyonzima-Aroian grew up in Ngozi province, and after earning an MBA from Northwestern and a 20+ year career in international business, started JNP in 2012 to help the farmers of her homeland through the development of specialty coffee. JNP's impact in working with over 18,000 farmers includes:
- paying women directly for their work, challenging norms in a culture where women lack full property ownership rights or equal access to education.
- providing a second payment they call Dushime®, Kirundi for "let's be thankful", after the harvest is sold on the market to help farmers fund school supplies, farm improvements, and family savings.
- Collaborating on building washing stations and organizing training programs that provide jobs and financial security for the next generation.
Burundi is a small, heart-shaped country in eastern equatorial Africa, surrounded by Rwanda, Tanzania, and Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Almost exactly the same size as Massachusetts but with twice the population, Burundi is one of the most densely populated, and poorest, countries on earth. Yet its rich volcanic soils, elevation and climate make Burundi an ideal location for coffee cultivation. Indeed coffee plays an outsized role in the economy and daily life there, with over 80% of the country's exports coming from coffee.
ORIGIN: Burundi
PRODUCER: Various
FARM: Various
VARIETY: Red Bourbon
PROCESS: Washed
REGION: Karuzi
ALTITUDE: 1700 masl
Regular price
$20.00
"Ubuto" means "young" in the local Kirundi language; truly an apt name for this coffee! Crisp and fresh with citrus acidity balancing deeper toffee and chocolate notes, this coffee comes from newly-planted Bourbon trees tended by young farmers in the province of Karuzi, itself a newcomer in Burundian terroir. Its youth and density support a dark roast profile which, through air-roasting, we achieve without the usual bitterness, making this a great option for espresso and other milk-based preparations.
JNP Coffee, our sourcing partner for this lot, is a small but influential exporter working exclusively in Burundi. Company founder Jeanine Niyonzima-Aroian grew up in Ngozi province, and after earning an MBA from Northwestern and a 20+ year career in international business, started JNP in 2012 to help the farmers of her homeland through the development of specialty coffee. JNP's impact in working with over 18,000 farmers includes:
- paying women directly for their work, challenging norms in a culture where women lack full property ownership rights or equal access to education.
- providing a second payment they call Dushime®, Kirundi for "let's be thankful", after the harvest is sold on the market to help farmers fund school supplies, farm improvements, and family savings.
- Collaborating on building washing stations and organizing training programs that provide jobs and financial security for the next generation.
Burundi is a small, heart-shaped country in eastern equatorial Africa, surrounded by Rwanda, Tanzania, and Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Almost exactly the same size as Massachusetts but with twice the population, Burundi is one of the most densely populated, and poorest, countries on earth. Yet its rich volcanic soils, elevation and climate make Burundi an ideal location for coffee cultivation. Indeed coffee plays an outsized role in the economy and daily life there, with over 80% of the country's exports coming from coffee.
ORIGIN: Burundi
PRODUCER: Various
FARM: Various
VARIETY: Red Bourbon
PROCESS: Washed
REGION: Karuzi
ALTITUDE: 1700 masl
Emerging Origins
On the flip side of every challenge lies an opportunity. As some traditional coffee growing regions become less suitable for Arabica cultivation due to climate change, areas further north and south of the equatorial belt are becoming potential growth zones. And the rise of high quality, specialty coffee has opened doors to countries not previously well-known for coffee production.
These emerging origins, each with their own distinct terroir, offer an opportunity to explore unique flavor profiles and experience firsthand the future of coffee.
Community Initiatives
In many of the places it is grown, coffee is the core of the local economy; with some help, income from its cultivation can support not just a single farm but an entire community.
Our "Community Initiatives" coffees represent various programs designed to improve living standards at a hyper-local level with input from the people who live there. These include water filtration systems, financing micro-loans, purchasing livestock, and funding K-12 schools, among others. These programs help to promote stability, self-sufficiency and resiliency in a rapidly changing world.
Future Farmers
These coffees are sourced from farmers who represent the next generation, such as women-owned farms and youth programs.
Female property ownership, still a rarity in many places, helps to improve income equality and self-determination for women throughout the community. Youth-focused programs encourage younger farmers to get into today's coffee market, with its focus on experimentation and quality, as an opportunity to make their mark.
Air Roasted to Perfection
We use 100% electric, clean air roasting for our coffees.
Air roasting works by suspending the beans in a column of hot air, allowing them to roast more evenly and consistently without picking up unwanted flavors or defects that can happen with drum roasters. Our roasters are designed to produce safe, low-temperature, clean exhaust without filters, catalyzers or afterburners.
Altogether, this means that we can roast clean-tasting coffees more consistently using less energy and with lower emissions than conventional methods.
Circular Packaging
Our coffee cans are manufactured in the USA from 100% domestically sourced steel.
Why steel? Unlike plastic and paper, it's infinitely recyclable and is recovered at a higher rate (72%) than any other food packaging material. It's also the ideal barrier for keeping oxygen, moisture and light away from the beans inside. This, plus an integrated valve, means our coffee stays fresher longer.
