Rwanda Tumba

Rwanda Rulindo Tumba is a washed Bourbon Arabica coffee from the Tumba Washing Station in Rulindo District, Northern Province. It showcases abundant sweetness with tasting notes of milk chocolate, orange, and lively accents of hibiscus, and cloves, accompanied by undertones of cherry and prunes. When roasted darker, the profile deepens into bittersweet, chocolate-laden body with fruit-and-spice aromatics—making it excellent for espresso as well.

Tumba Washing Station is located in Tumba Town, within Rulindo District of Rwanda’s Northern Province, situated at approximately 1,825 meters above sea level. The coffee is handpicked, wet-processed, and sun-dried on raised beds, often with careful hand-sorting and quality control. A pivotal turnaround in consistency and quality occurred when Venustre Mugraneza, a local teacher, took over the mill’s management, instilling stringent quality practices and ensuring exceptional, reliable cups.

Rwanda is a small yet influential coffee producer, known for its high-altitude Bourbon Arabica cultivated predominantly by smallholder farmers. Around 400,000 to 450,000 livelihoods depend on the crop. Post-genocide rebuilding, aided by partnerships and investments (e.g., PEARL, NAEB, USAID), brought about a shift toward specialty coffee, with improved washing station infrastructure, better processing methods, and cooperative networks ensuring quality and traceability. Rwandan coffee typically boasts silky, creamy body, floral and citrus notes, sweet caramel or sugar tones, and refined, vibrant acidity—comparable to but distinct from Kenyan and Ethiopian counterparts.