INTRODUCTION
With a water- and energy saving triple fermentation method, advanced pulp recycling methods and two women empowerment organisations, Rushashi coffee washing station (CWS) is truly progressive. In 2017-2018, they rocked the European coffee scene with a killer natural experiment that we plan to keep in our assortment in coming years.
Rushashi serves as a prime example of how Rwandan cooperative societies can become sustainable by constantly improving quality and operating sustainably. With the help of MISOZI, a local private but social exporting business, they are able to sell their unforgettably complex coffees worldwide - it's no surprise that they frequently earn a place in the Rwanda Cup Of Excellence competition (highest: 3d place!). For three years, This Side Up's premium has been invested in Rushashi's financial independence from rural banks by the cooperative's members, while from 2017 onwards, we have been investing in a nursery for shade trees and other plants that organically strengthen the coffee.
CULTIVARS
Arabica Bourbon types: French Mission, Jackson, Mbirizi, Pop 3303/21
ALTITUDE
1,700 - 2,000 meters above sea level
NOTABLE
Since 2016, we are pioneering "village lots". In the 2019-2020 season, we imported lots collected from the village of Rutabo only. Organic and produced Fair Trade certified, emphasis on women empowerment, several Cup of Excellence awards.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
2014: first direct sales of Rushashi coffee in Europe, creation of savings account for harvest working capital to avoid rural loans.
2015: creation of the country's first cascara trials, subject of a value chain exhibition at the Ethnology Museum in Leiden, the Netherlands.
2016: export of cascara approved, first village lots created and exported: Burimba and Minazi.
2017: new village lot created (Rutabo), first PB and high grade natural lot imported by This Side Up.
2018: After the success of the experimental natural lots, we created two natural village lots: Rutabo and Minazi. Nursery for shade trees and other organic intercrops created with our premium.
2019: starting agroforestry trials on a microlot close to the Rushashi washing station. Decided to import the natural and washed lot of Rutabo village only.
PROCESSING
naturals are shade dried, then sun dried and consistently turned to achieve the lowest possible amount of defects.