Coffee farming and production began in Burundi in the early 1900s under Belgian colonial rule, where farmers were forced to grow coffee, the produce was bought and processed by the state and coffee was exported primarily to Europe. The sector was privatized in the 1960s, followed by state control from 1976 to 1991, and then a new wave of privatization began in 1991.

After the civil war in the 1990s, coffee has slowly emerged as a means to rebuild the agrarian sector and to increase foreign exchange, with an increase in investment and a somewhat healthy balance of both privately and state-run coffee companies. However, following the political crisis of 2015 and the subsequent economic crash, the coffee sector has struggled to meet the expectations and potential to stimulate the economic growth of Burundi.

Information on this Washed Coffee

All cherry is hand-sorted before a pre-pulp float, where any under ripe or damaged cherry is removed. The selected cherry is now pulped in preparation for fermentation. The now parchment coffee is fermented in concrete fermentation tanks for an average of 12 hours under water. During this time, the fermenting parchment is agitated several times throughout the day.  

After fermentation, coffee is released into a large serpentine grading channel. This process also separates parchment into different density grades. During the washing process, parchment is continuously agitated to encourage lower density parchment to float and to clean any residual mucilage off the parchment. Once the parchment is separated into grades, it is given a final post-wash rinse. At this point, coffee is taken to a pre-drying area where the parchment is hand-sorted removing any insect-damaged, discoloured or chipped coffee. The parchment is laid out to dry and turned on a regular basis throughout the day for between 13 and 16 days depending on the climate.

Maximum Impact Coffee

As of December 2019, Raw Material has established a production and exportation branch in Burundi, through the construction of a washing station and export company. The construction of a centralised washing station (not seen in all coffee producing countries) can serve also as a nucleus within a community. This localised position in a community can benefit producers by distributing needed agricultural products, as well as through ways to support the local community through funds, staff, and construction where needed.

RM Burundi works to create wide-reaching community benefits through and beyond the production and sale of coffee.

Businde’s producers received a premium that was 20% above the local market rate this season.

Businde is a station managed by Matraco Coffee, located in the northern province of Kayanza, close to the Rwandan border. This is a station with a wide reach to local coffee farmers, processing the cherry of up to 650 local farming families. As a washing station, it is important to consider the payment of workers who process the cherry as well as the price received by those who cultivated them.

As a station, Businde pays its staff 60% above the rate for seasonal labour.

To assist with the dispersing of coffee pulp, Matraco distributes this compost as fertiliser to help the farmers nearby. Alongside this, they assist with the yields of local farmers by donating seedlings to their farms. Higher profits accompanied by the potential of more cherry to sell.