A Community That Grew Peace Before Coffee

In Kayonza, Rukara, Rwanda’s Eastern Province, where rolling hills meet vast savanna, 165 women grow Red Bourbon coffee at an average altitude of 1,750 meters, fully washed and Fairtrade certified. Warm days and cool evenings nurture cherries filled with bright sweetness, floral aromas, and lively citrus notes.

Long before they became coffee producers, these women came together to build peace in their community — coffee became the next chapter. One of the first cooperatives selected for the Sustainable Growers program, TUK has since graduated and is nationally recognized for its strong governance.

The cooperative has grown from 45 to 165 members while pioneering innovative processing methods and welcoming visitors to experience coffee from tree to cup, proof that when women invest in one another, entire communities flourish. Their coffee scored 87.74 at the Best of Rwanda 2025 competition, placing 16th out of 300 samples. Every bean tells a story that began with unity.

Interested in sourcing from TUK? Reach out to marketaccess@sustainablegrowers.org to request samples or learn more.

Where the Mountains Reward Patience

High in the hills of Gicumbi, coffee cherries mature slowly in the cool mountain air — that extra time creates remarkable sweetness, delicate florals, and layers of complexity found only at this elevation. The cooperative’s 320 women farmers grow Red Bourbon coffee at an average altitude of 1,775 meters, fully washed and Fairtrade certified, at their own wet mill in Muko.

For years, farmers watched others determine the value of their coffee. Today, women stand at the heart of quality, from nurturing the trees to guiding processing and connecting directly with international buyers. Their knowledge has transformed exceptional coffee into lasting prosperity, creating opportunities that extend far beyond the harvest.

Mayogi’s coffee consistently scores between 85 and 90, and earned First Runner-Up in the 2018 Cup of Excellence with a cupping score of 90.06.

Mayogi is proof that patience, both in coffee and in people, produces extraordinary results.

Interested in sourcing from Mayogi? Reach out to marketaccess@sustainablegrowers.org to request samples or learn more.

Beautiful Women, Beautiful Coffee

Nyampinga means “Beautiful Women.” In Rwanda’s Southern Province, Nyaruguru, Rusenge, where rolling hills produce coffees known for their sweetness and balance, 300 women farmers grow Red Bourbon coffee at an average altitude of 1,760 meters, fully washed and Fairtrade certified, at their own washing station.

What began as women supporting one another through savings groups has grown into a thriving cooperative where women lead, innovate, and inspire others across Rwanda. One of the first two cooperatives enrolled in the Sustainable Growers program, Nyampinga increased production from under 1kg per tree to over 2.2kg per tree within three years — all while achieving specialty-grade coffee scores.

Today, Nyampinga brings together 330 members, whose coffee consistently scores 85+. Their coffee reflects what they have built together, beautiful, in every sense of the word.

Interested in sourcing from Nyampinga? Reach out to marketaccess@sustainablegrowers.org to request samples or learn more.

The Women Who Found Their Voice Through Coffee

In Rwanda’s northern highlands, Gakenke, Rushashi, rich volcanic soils and cool mountain mornings produce coffees bursting with ripe fruit, honey-like sweetness, and remarkable clarity. ABK’s 2,112 farmers, including 916 women, grow Red Bourbon coffee at an altitude of 2,000 meters, fully washed and both Fairtrade and Organic certified.

Within ABK, those 916 women came together to form Hinga Kawa, a movement built on a simple idea: move forward together. Recognized for its story of women’s advancement and reconciliation, Hinga Kawa has helped these women become not only coffee growers but leaders, trainers, and ambassadors representing their community on the global specialty coffee stage.

ABK’s coffees consistently score above 87 points and have been featured in Starbucks Reserve for three consecutive years, setting the standard for quality and innovation in Rwandan coffee.

Every harvest is a reminder that advancing women transforms far more than coffee.

Interested in sourcing from ABK? Reach out to marketaccess@sustainablegrowers.org to request samples or learn more.

Where Lake Kivu Gives Coffee a Second Chance

In Rusizi District, on the hills overlooking Lake Kivu, 186 women grow Red Bourbon coffee at an average altitude of 1,650 meters, fully washed and Fairtrade certified since 2014. Their fertile volcanic soil gives the coffee elegant sweetness, vibrant fruit notes, and remarkable clarity — flavors that speak unmistakably of Rwanda’s western landscape.

But the true richness of Gashonga is found in the women who nurture it. Since the cooperative’s founding in 2009, they have cultivated more than exceptional coffee — they’ve cultivated opportunity, diversifying their incomes alongside coffee through livestock like cows and hens, and building a cooperative recognized for its quality: a 2015 Cup of Excellence entry that scored 86.7 and placed seventh. Through their dedication, shared knowledge, and unwavering commitment to quality, they have become leaders in their families and communities, building stronger livelihoods and inspiring the next generation to see coffee as a future worth investing in.

Each coffee lot from Gashonga is an invitation to taste renewal, and to share in the journey of women whose leadership continues to shape the future of Rwandan coffee.

Interested in sourcing from Gashonga? Reach out to marketaccess@sustainablegrowers.org to request samples or learn more.

Quality, Cooperation, and Resilience

In Rwanda’s volcanic Kivu Belt, coffee grows in mineral-rich soils shaped by high elevation, fertile volcanic landscapes, and a distinctive climate. The slow-growing coffee develops the brightness, sweetness, and complexity that make Kivu coffees so distinctive. KOPAKAKI’s coffee is cultivated at elevations of approximately 1,500–1,800 metres above sea level, in the Karongi District, Western Province, roughly a 2.5 to 3-hour drive from Kigali.

At KOPAKAKI, this remarkable terroir produces a memorable cup with crisp green apple and lemon brightness, raisin-like sweetness, and delicate notes of coriander and butter.

But the story behind the coffee is just as remarkable.

KOPAKAKI cooperative members have turned farming into a pathway for opportunity, resilience, and shared success. Through the cooperative, women are taking leadership across the value chain, from farming and processing to quality control and export.

KOPAKAKI is among Rwanda’s most recognised coffee cooperatives, known for its commitment to quality and responsible production. The cooperative holds both Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance certifications, reflecting its focus on ethical sourcing, environmental responsibility, and stronger livelihoods for its members.

KOPAKAKI offers more than a distinctive Rwandan coffee. It tells the story of women who have built success through quality, cooperation, and resilience.
Every cup carries both the character of the Kivu highlands and the determination of the women who grow there.

For more information reach out to marketaccess@sustainablegrowers.org