RAEK KATANA, natural 250g

After the launch in Malmö this September we are excited to release the Katana natural here in the ÖGKR webshop!

INTRODUCTION

The cooperative society RAEK in the town of Katana baffled our friends at @thissideupcoffee when they first arrived there in March, 2017. A state of the art washing station, organic fertilisation and reforestation schemes - and yet only one buyer, albeit a very loyal one (Oxfam). This is partly due to the fact that East Congo is still being discovered by the specialty coffee industry, and partly because almost no one had ever heard of the specialty coffee phenomenon. Whatever the case, this was a situation they needed to change.

Because of the coop’s good prices and honest payment ethic, farmers are flocking to RAEK to become members. At the same time, the coop had many institutional and financial challenges these last years. They survived partly because of the energy and perseverance of its loyal manager: lifelong coffee farmer and agronomist Désiré Zagabe - and partly because of the unwavering support of Stefaan Calmeyn and Oxfam. On @thissideupcoffee s first visit with Agriterra in 2017, they invited the farmers to roast and cup their own coffees for the first time. In 2018, they connected them to our friends at Abakundakawa Rushashi to teach them to make naturals to save water and diversify.  Expect beautiful red berries, fruit flavours and a syrupy body for the natural.