Burundi Akeza

Tasting Notes: Jasmine, Apple, Honey

The Rango Commune (500 farmers) | Region: Butanyerera, Burundi | Varietal: Bourbon | Mill/Washing Station: Rango Commune Mill | Importer: JNP

Our average cupping score: 86.25

About the Producers

Akeza coffee, named for the Kirundi word for “beautiful,” is grown by about 500 farmers in the Rango commune. Despite challenging access, JNP Coffee’s founder, Jeanine Niyonzima-Aroian, recognized the exceptional coffee cultivated with great care on small plots with volcanic soil. To support these farmers, JNP pays premium prices and provides second payments. A significant development was the 2021 opening of a nearby, partially woman-owned washing station. This facility, featuring advanced elements like tiled fermentation tanks for enhanced purity, allows for same-day processing, resulting in higher-quality beans and greater premiums for farmers.

What makes this coffee stand out

In East Africa, coffee is predominantly grown by smallholder farmers who cultivate it on garden-sized plots, often intercropped with food staples. This model is exemplified by the producers of Akeza coffee in Burundi's Kayanza Province. Most farmers there typically own just 25 to 30 trees, which they nurture with exceptional care on their family land. This small-scale, intensive approach prioritizes quality over quantity, with each tree receiving meticulous attention.

Pour over recipe:

Ratio: 18g coffee, 274g water | Grind: Medium-coarse | Water: 200F

0:00 60 g bloom, gentle
0:45 200 g medium height, create agitation
(just before bed dries) 274 very gentle, very slow
Target brew time 3:15