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Muzo Ikizere • Rwanda

Muzo Ikizere • Rwanda

$21.75
$21.75
Sale Sold out

TASTING NOTES: Pecan • Plum • White Tea
COUNTRY: Rwanda
PRODUCER: Ikizere Women Group
PROCESSING: Washed

Amount:
  • WHOLE BEAN WHOLE BEAN
  • COARSE - FRENCH PRESS/COLD BREW COARSE - FRENCH PRESS/COLD BREW
  • MEDIUM COARSE - CHEMEX MEDIUM COARSE - CHEMEX
  • MEDIUM - DRIP BREWER MEDIUM - DRIP BREWER
  • MEDIUM FINE - V60/AEROPRESS MEDIUM FINE - V60/AEROPRESS
  • FINE - ESPRESSO FINE - ESPRESSO
  • Free shipping over $65 OR subscriptions with 2 or more 12oz bags
  • Ships fresh from Pittsburgh, PA
  • Low emission coffee roaster
View full details
Country

Rwanda

Rwanda
Region

Gakenke District, Northern Province

Producer

Ikizere Women Group

Altitude

1800-2100 masl

Variety

Red Bourbon

Processing

Washed

Drying

Raised Beds

We have been purchasing coffee from the importing and exporting duo of Baho Coffee and Sundog Trading since 2020. Together these two companies source, produce, and supply phenomenal Rwandan coffees. They also demonstrate care and commitment to producers that is seldom seen in the coffee industry. Baho Coffee is owned and operated by Emmanuel Rusatira, who started the company after nearly 20 years of establishing washing stations and managing coffee sector development projects in Rwanda for other companies. Baho allows Emmanuel to freely implement his philosophies and uphold high quality protocols for the stations that he and the communities he works with have invested in. 

The average coffee farm in Rwanda is less than one hectare in size, so their yields are often low. As a result, many farmers end up selling their coffee cherries to centralized processing stations. Baho owns ten different stations across the various coffee growing regions within the country. This particular coffee was processed at the Muzo Station in the Gakenke District in northern Rwanda. There are drastically fewer stations in this remote area of the country in comparison to famously populated districts like those immediately surrounding Lake Kivu. Nonetheless, competition remains fierce, as the Gakenke District has garnered the attention of more strictly specialty-focused stations. Muzo is Baho’s smallest station, and it is near and dear to Emmanuel as the source of some of his most prized coffees every year. 

Muzo has also been a major focus of investment the past few seasons. Baho established a massive seedling distribution program here, gifting millions of Red Bourbon seedlings to farmers. In tandem with farms slowly starting to increase their output, Muzo has been expanding their land and adding a substantial amount of drying beds. The consistently high quality from Muzo has been staggering to witness, and we feel incredibly lucky to carry their coffee year over year.

Ikizere means “confidence” in Kinyarwanda, and is the name of Baho’s flagship initiative to create more traceable lot separations in Rwanda. Ikizere members are widowed women and single mothers who navigate two traditionally patriarchal systems: Rwandese society and the coffee production industry. Baho Coffee supports them by covering their health insurance, providing short term loans for family development, creating access to clean drinking water, and more.

In Emmanuel Rusatira’s words:

“We decided to bring these women together, through coffee, and revive their hope by showing them that we consider them as part of the community and they are equally needed, important, and valued like any other person, regardless of the struggle, social & economic situation. It is a group that started in 2020, now well organized and have their elected leadership to coordinate activities.

Recognition was one step, but we also want to advocate for them and sell their coffee to buyers who care about people, humanity, and equality. Coffee from these women was prepared with expectation when women used their hands to pulp cherries instead of using the machines. With income from this coffee, Baho promised these women to receive the highest price of cherries in the country, and through support from our buyers, will pay for their health insurance.”

Commonplace Coffee’s primary focus, when it comes to coffees from Baho Coffee and Sundog Trading, is to continue purchasing coffee from the Ikizere women’s groups, who have representation at every processing station that Baho owns across Rwanda. This coffee from Muzo’s Ikizere Group is a beautiful and sweet washed processed coffee that is has the florality of white tea and honey, the crispness of a fresh plum and a pecan-like sweetness.

Farmers that contributed to this lot include: Mukambuguje Bibiane, Nyirabahinde Regine, Akimanimpaye Triphine, Mukamana Costasie, Mukanoheri Louise, Nyiramayambere Vestine, Mukamuhutu Alphonsine, Nyiransabimana Anisyllatha, Mukabaziga Marguarte, Nyiransengimana Valerie, Mukagatera Verena, Uwimana Marguarte, Ingabire Puriquerie, Uwurukundo Marie Claire, and Dusabe Odette.

FAQs

Shipping Information

We operate Monday-Friday and strive to ship your order within 2 business days of the order or renewal date (not including weekends.) Your order will be shipped by UPS or USPS to your door. You will receive a tracking notification when your order ships.

Roasting Information

All coffee is roasted fresh to order on our Loring S35 Kestrel Coffee Roaster. All bags are stamped with the roast date, and we think coffee tastes best if consumed within 2-4 weeks. However, if left whole bean and stored in a cool, dry place away from sunlight, the coffee can remain enjoyable for up to 4-6 months, depending on the bag or container. Most of our coffee is roasted to a medium or light/medium roast level, except for All Day, which is our staple dark roast offering.

How do I purchase this as a gift?

You can include a note when adding the product to your cart (or by emailing our team) to request that certain coffees be excluded.

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You select the product and options that best meet your needs, and our team takes care of the rest! Learn more about oursubscription policy and full FAQs.

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About Us

SUSTAINABILITY: Commonplace Coffee focuses on environmental sustainability by using a low-emissions coffee roaster, plant-based coffee bags, and more. Read about our sustainability practices here.

RELATIONAL COFFEE SOURCING: Commonplace Coffee honors supply chain stakeholders by maintaining multi-year sourcing relationships and working with smallholder farmers. Kunjin, our longest continuous offering, has been in our lineup since 2013. 

OUR MISSION: Commonplace Coffee exists to foster and build community through coffee with Craft and Care. Read about our full mission and values here.

GIVING BACK: Commonplace Coffee’s charitable giving program raises money for local and national nonprofits via donation-based coffee blends, retail days of giving, and more. Learn more about our charitable giving in our annual transparency report.

CRAFT & CARE: Commonplace Coffee is made with craft and care. We believe that the best coffee balances scientific knowledge and dedicated practice with intention and heart.