RWANDA, Kilimbi, Nyamasheke

Producer: Muraho Trading Co. 

Growing altitude: 1600-1800m above sea level.

Botanical variety: Bourbon.

Process: Washed.

Tasting notes: Molasses, earl grey, raspberry, lime, cranberry flavours.

Roast date: 8 August, 2025

The road from Kigali to Rugali is one of Rwanda’s most stunning drives. Winding through the verdant Nyamasheke District, travelers pass rolling hills, dense forests, vibrant villages, and thriving coffee farms—until the landscape opens up to reveal the shimmering expanse of Lake Kivu, Rwanda’s largest lake and a natural border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Set on the shores of Lake Kivu and surrounded by Rwanda’s iconic thousand hills, Rugali Coffee Washing Station (CWS) is more than a processing site—it’s a cultural and agricultural hub.

Though Rugali CWS is still relatively young, it has grown into one of the most respected and community-centered stations in Rwanda. This success is thanks to the tireless work of the Muraho Trading Co. team and the many smallholder farmers who make up the extended Rugali family.

95% of coffee trees in Rwanda are Bourbon, and Rugali’s lots show why. Rich sweetness, a structured body, and clarity in the cup.

Rwanda’s coffee industry is unique: No large estates. Over 400,000 smallholders, each owning less than a quarter hectare

Cooperative models and community-run stations form the backbone of production. Rugali and its sister station Kilimbi made history as the first washing stations in Rwanda legally permitted to produce and export Natural and Honey-processed coffees—paving the way for innovation across the country.

“Through our relationship with Muraho and the families behind Rugali, we’re able to showcase the beauty, resilience, and potential of Rwanda’s smallholder coffee.”