Rwenzori
Rwenzori

Rwenzori

€16,50

Fruity, jammy and full-bodied. As soon as we tasted this coffee from our friends at Mountain Harvest in Uganda, we asked them how much was available and how soon we could buy it. Mountain Harvest is a forward-thinking cooperative with whom we have partnered for events in the past. This "cosmic natural" coffee is dried 100% in the sun, with no mechanical dryers, a rarity in Uganda. The result is an intensely flavorful coffee with a "deep natural" flavor profile: winey, with sweet cherry tomatoes and an exotic savory character. Makes a brilliant and memorable single-origin espresso.

Body

Sweetness

Acidity

Origin: Uganda - Rwenzori
Farm: Mountain Harvest Cooperative
Process: Natural
Varietal: SL-14, SL-28
Notes: winey, sweet cherry tomatoes, exotic savory character
Need it ground?
Weight
Sun dried natural coffee cherries on a raised drying bed at Mountain Harvest cooperative, Sironko Uganda
Origin

Rwenzori comes from a smallholder project in the Western region of Uganda, where the team expanded its operations in 2022 and established the Rwenzori Smallholder Project alongside its first washing station. From the very first season, the region showed incredible potential, with a combination of unique terroir, high-quality cherry, and dedicated farmers pointing towards a promising future for Ugandan coffee.

Building on that potential, the project has committed to a new washing station for the 2024 season, developed under the mentorship of Seth Nduwayo, a processing technician dedicated equally to coffee quality and positive farmer impact. The new station represents an investment in the region and in creating the infrastructure needed to bring out the best in the coffee produced by its smallholder farmers.

This particular lot is the Rwenzori Cosmic Natural AB, a natural-processed coffee that highlights the distinctive character of the Rwenzori region. By allowing the cherries to dry with the fruit intact, the process brings forward a vibrant, fruit-driven profile while preserving the character of the coffee and its terroir.

Rwenzori is part of a new chapter for Ugandan coffee, showcasing the potential of the country's Western region and the impact that thoughtful processing, strong farmer relationships, and investment in local infrastructure can have on quality.

Connection

We came to know the Mountain Harvest project through our connection with the team working in Western Uganda. When we first heard about their expansion into the region and the work they were doing with smallholder farmers, we were immediately curious. It was a new origin and a new project for us, but the potential of the region was clear from the start.

When we tasted the Rwenzori Cosmic Natural AB, that potential became even more obvious. The coffee had the kind of vibrant, fruit-driven character that immediately caught our attention, and we knew we wanted to be part of its story.

Uganda doesn't show up on most specialty coffee menus. We think it should. The Rwenzori Smallholder Project is opening up a new chapter for coffee from the Western region of the country, investing in local processing infrastructure while working closely with farmers and focusing on quality.

For us, Rwenzori is about discovering what can happen when a promising new region, committed farmers, and thoughtful processing come together. We're excited to share this coffee and to support the people building something new in Rwenzori.

Connection

We came to Mountain Harvest through a friend of a friend. A Dutch contact living in Honduras (the same person who connected us with our Maya coffee) put us in touch with the Mountain Harvest team. We liked what we saw and decided to organize an event at our Amsterdam cafe to introduce their coffees to the Dutch public.

While preparing for that event, we tasted the Sironko Pure Natural. Within minutes we were asking how much was available and whether we could buy some before anyone else did. The answer was yes.

Uganda doesn't show up on most specialty coffee menus. We think it should. Mountain Harvest is doing serious work with their farmers, and coffees like this Sironko prove what's possible when the right people are paying attention. This one's for anyone who wants something bold, fruity, and a little different.