RWANDA | RWAMATAMU PEABERRY | RED BOURBON | WASHED

Rwamatamu was established in 2015 by husband and wife Rutaganda Gaston and Mukantwaza Laeticia, who set out to build a coffee business with a lasting connection to the communities around it. Alongside their own plantation, they work with cooperatives and smallholder farmers, bringing together coffee from across their producer network.

This peaberry lot comes through the Mbare washing station in Rwanda’s Southern Province. Here, the cherries are carefully sorted, washed and dried before travelling to Kigali for milling and grading.

Beyond the coffee itself, Rwamatamu has developed community initiatives that give women and young people opportunities to build skills and income through coffee farming. From its Women’s Cooperative in Nyamasheke to the Youth Association in Mbare, the business is working to make coffee a more sustainable livelihood for the next generation.

Cherries arriving at Rwamatamu’s Mbare washing station are sorted by hand before being pulped. The coffee is then fermented in water for 12–48 hours to break down the remaining mucilage. Once fermentation is complete, it is washed clean and dried on raised beds for 21–22 days, depending on the weather. The dried coffee is transported to Kigali, where it is dehusked, polished and graded.

Rwamatamu works with farmers in Nyamasheke and Mbare, supporting community groups in both locations. In Nyamasheke, the business has purchased land and provided seedlings and training to a Women’s Cooperative, helping members develop an income source beyond seasonal employment. In Mbare, a Youth Association offers a similar opportunity for people aged 18–35.

The supplier also reports that women make up around 80% of Rwamatamu’s workforce. The business prioritises regular coffee purchases, employee development and long-term relationships with local producers. Organic and Fairtrade certification is being pursued, but the supplier does not state that this lot is currently certified.