UGANDA NATURAL- BUKONZO DREAM
Region: Kasese District, Rwenzori Mountains
Collection Point: Kisinga
Farming Altitude: 1750-1900m.a.s. l
Connected Farmers: ~2000
Varietals: SL 14 & SL28
Harvest Months: September - January
Latitude: 0.07288094090454415
Longitude: 29.898098082048204
Station Altitude: 1135 m.a.s. l
Direct Employees: 80+
Omwani were first exposed to supporting individual farms in their traditional farming practises. A consistent problem was that farmers based in the Rwenzoris had coffee, but no access to basic harvesting or processing facilities. This coupled with traders offering often unfair prices for their crops in a quick cash grab. Set the scene for a positive actor to enter the region and transform coffee.
In 2016 the Kisinga Coffee Station originally started as a collection point for both Dried Ugandan Arabica (DRUGAR) and cherries. The typical approach to processing coffee in the Rwenzori Mountains has been for farmers to process it themselves. Typically drying cherries on tarpaulin in the sun. Sourcing this DRUGAR was considerably easier in the beginning than trying to purchase ripe cherries, it turns out old habits do die hard.
By the end of the second season Agri Evolve was given some outstanding reviews from a Japanese importer who thought their African Moon coffee was fantastic and "full of potential", which in turn kickstarted the interest in high quality Rwenzori Coffee that they sourced and processed.
BUKONZO DREAM
Trust was the biggest obstacle when Agri Evolve first started trying to buy cherries from farmers and cooperatives in the Rwenzoris. The primary focus initially, was to build relationships with the key decision makers in the communities to invoke confidence in our untested and unproven initiative. Given enough time there was a gradual shift in the quantity of coffee we could access in cherry form opposed to processed green.
The benefits of this approach to sourcing lies in the control of quality. Purchasing coffee as freshly picked, ripe cherry directly from farmers and processing it at the washing station in Kisinga, enables Agri Evolve to control the variables and create consistent premium coffee which we named
‘Bukonzo Dream’.
The name is derived from The Bakonzo Tribe. A group of descendants living throughout the Rwenzori Mountains, covering both Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo. Individuals do not necessarily identify as citizens of either country, they will proudly announce their Bakonzo heritage. These incredible people combined with our dream to connect these coffees and people with roasters and cafes, is where the name was born .
Lots are organised by geographic regions coordinated with specialist buying centres, often broken down even further into specific day-lots. Our focus is on controlling the natural processing of cherries while paying special attention to controlling quality, utilising round-the-clock techniques, constantly refining every process to create the best possible Rwenzori coffee.
We have profiled this coffee to make sure it’s super delicious and showcases the hard work of the producers.
We think this coffee is juicy and bright with flavours of strawberry and peach with a syrupy body. Try it first without milk or sugar!
Region: Kasese District, Rwenzori Mountains
Collection Point: Kisinga
Farming Altitude: 1750-1900m.a.s. l
Connected Farmers: ~2000
Varietals: SL 14 & SL28
Harvest Months: September - January
Latitude: 0.07288094090454415
Longitude: 29.898098082048204
Station Altitude: 1135 m.a.s. l
Direct Employees: 80+
Omwani were first exposed to supporting individual farms in their traditional farming practises. A consistent problem was that farmers based in the Rwenzoris had coffee, but no access to basic harvesting or processing facilities. This coupled with traders offering often unfair prices for their crops in a quick cash grab. Set the scene for a positive actor to enter the region and transform coffee.
In 2016 the Kisinga Coffee Station originally started as a collection point for both Dried Ugandan Arabica (DRUGAR) and cherries. The typical approach to processing coffee in the Rwenzori Mountains has been for farmers to process it themselves. Typically drying cherries on tarpaulin in the sun. Sourcing this DRUGAR was considerably easier in the beginning than trying to purchase ripe cherries, it turns out old habits do die hard.
By the end of the second season Agri Evolve was given some outstanding reviews from a Japanese importer who thought their African Moon coffee was fantastic and "full of potential", which in turn kickstarted the interest in high quality Rwenzori Coffee that they sourced and processed.
BUKONZO DREAM
Trust was the biggest obstacle when Agri Evolve first started trying to buy cherries from farmers and cooperatives in the Rwenzoris. The primary focus initially, was to build relationships with the key decision makers in the communities to invoke confidence in our untested and unproven initiative. Given enough time there was a gradual shift in the quantity of coffee we could access in cherry form opposed to processed green.
The benefits of this approach to sourcing lies in the control of quality. Purchasing coffee as freshly picked, ripe cherry directly from farmers and processing it at the washing station in Kisinga, enables Agri Evolve to control the variables and create consistent premium coffee which we named
‘Bukonzo Dream’.
The name is derived from The Bakonzo Tribe. A group of descendants living throughout the Rwenzori Mountains, covering both Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo. Individuals do not necessarily identify as citizens of either country, they will proudly announce their Bakonzo heritage. These incredible people combined with our dream to connect these coffees and people with roasters and cafes, is where the name was born .
Lots are organised by geographic regions coordinated with specialist buying centres, often broken down even further into specific day-lots. Our focus is on controlling the natural processing of cherries while paying special attention to controlling quality, utilising round-the-clock techniques, constantly refining every process to create the best possible Rwenzori coffee.
We have profiled this coffee to make sure it’s super delicious and showcases the hard work of the producers.
We think this coffee is juicy and bright with flavours of strawberry and peach with a syrupy body. Try it first without milk or sugar!
Region: Kasese District, Rwenzori Mountains
Collection Point: Kisinga
Farming Altitude: 1750-1900m.a.s. l
Connected Farmers: ~2000
Varietals: SL 14 & SL28
Harvest Months: September - January
Latitude: 0.07288094090454415
Longitude: 29.898098082048204
Station Altitude: 1135 m.a.s. l
Direct Employees: 80+
Omwani were first exposed to supporting individual farms in their traditional farming practises. A consistent problem was that farmers based in the Rwenzoris had coffee, but no access to basic harvesting or processing facilities. This coupled with traders offering often unfair prices for their crops in a quick cash grab. Set the scene for a positive actor to enter the region and transform coffee.
In 2016 the Kisinga Coffee Station originally started as a collection point for both Dried Ugandan Arabica (DRUGAR) and cherries. The typical approach to processing coffee in the Rwenzori Mountains has been for farmers to process it themselves. Typically drying cherries on tarpaulin in the sun. Sourcing this DRUGAR was considerably easier in the beginning than trying to purchase ripe cherries, it turns out old habits do die hard.
By the end of the second season Agri Evolve was given some outstanding reviews from a Japanese importer who thought their African Moon coffee was fantastic and "full of potential", which in turn kickstarted the interest in high quality Rwenzori Coffee that they sourced and processed.
BUKONZO DREAM
Trust was the biggest obstacle when Agri Evolve first started trying to buy cherries from farmers and cooperatives in the Rwenzoris. The primary focus initially, was to build relationships with the key decision makers in the communities to invoke confidence in our untested and unproven initiative. Given enough time there was a gradual shift in the quantity of coffee we could access in cherry form opposed to processed green.
The benefits of this approach to sourcing lies in the control of quality. Purchasing coffee as freshly picked, ripe cherry directly from farmers and processing it at the washing station in Kisinga, enables Agri Evolve to control the variables and create consistent premium coffee which we named
‘Bukonzo Dream’.
The name is derived from The Bakonzo Tribe. A group of descendants living throughout the Rwenzori Mountains, covering both Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo. Individuals do not necessarily identify as citizens of either country, they will proudly announce their Bakonzo heritage. These incredible people combined with our dream to connect these coffees and people with roasters and cafes, is where the name was born .
Lots are organised by geographic regions coordinated with specialist buying centres, often broken down even further into specific day-lots. Our focus is on controlling the natural processing of cherries while paying special attention to controlling quality, utilising round-the-clock techniques, constantly refining every process to create the best possible Rwenzori coffee.
We have profiled this coffee to make sure it’s super delicious and showcases the hard work of the producers.
We think this coffee is juicy and bright with flavours of strawberry and peach with a syrupy body. Try it first without milk or sugar!