Mar 24 2009
Rwandaian gold
There is something about Africa…
Every season, I seem to find a brand new favorite from the continent. One that I just cannot get enough of, an do my best to share with others. First there was that Tanzanian Blackburn Estate, which just blew me away, and now I have found its counterpart in the Rwanda Gkongoro Nyarusiza, a great little coffee from a place thats doing its best to recover from a decade of Genocide. According to Tom from Sweet Maria’s, getting your hands on great coffee from this troubled nieghbor of Tanzia is a task indeed. The unstable area makes it hard to ship any goods out of the country and the farmers are hard pressed into growing something that might not even make it to a market.
Well I am sure glad, that someone went through all the trouble to get this coffee put. While it does not necessarily jump out at you and grap you by the throat like some more distinct Ethipoians or Kenyans might this Rwanda hooks you with its simplistic complexity that draws you in and leaves you wanting more. It initially somes across like a strong tea, with a flowery lemon undertone, then leaves bold coffee after taste. This a great coffee for lazy morning, something that you can sip on as you laze around and read the Sunday paper that you just “borrowed” from your nieghbor. And its pretty cheap too. I would rate this coffee above any overpriced Kona and I got it for less than one third of the price.
Hmmm…
That reminds me,
I have a feeling that I should hurry up and buy more before others get wind of it.
Hey!
I happened across your site while googling Mexican Chiapis Proish Coop.
I’ve really enjoyed reading your blog. I’ve been roasting for about 5 years now and I am hooked on “real” good coffee. I noticed you mentioning SweetMarias quite a lot as your supplier. I wanted to turn you on to some other excellent sources that are much less expensive.
Green Coffee Coop: They distribute coffee at cost plus expenses about once or twice a month. You have to stay on top of the website to grab some beans because they sell out in a matter of a couple of hours usually. You must register in order to purchase.
Green Coffee Buying Club: Another excellent source of green beans! They have more distributions than the coop. But they, like the coop have a good cupper/s and I have never bought a less than stellar green bean from them.
Google these suppliers, read the website and let me know whatcha think.
Mark Melton
Thanks for the comment, I will definitely check out these sites. I am actually googling as I type ( such a multitasker). The thing I like about SM is that it is local (Oaktown baby), which means I do not have to pay shipping. Still, if I can find coffee that costs less even with the shipping…