D.R. Congo Kahondo K3 FW Organic / AtS+ (2022)

Goji berry, blackcurrant, vanilla, red apple.
On Sale
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Bag Weight 60 KG BAG
Status Spot
Lot Number P8001549-1
  • 10 Bag(s)
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About This Coffee

Kahondo Coffee Washing Station (CWS) is one of 7 washing stations belonging to Virunga Coffee Company, setup by Schluter (now Olam Specialty Europe) in 2012 to produce high quality coffees for the specialty market and increase premiums for the thousands of smallholder farmers in the region. The strategy for Virunga has been three-fold: 1) To increase production through good agronomic practice 2) to improve quality through education and strict guidelines for production and processing 3) to obtain internationally recognised certification in order to generate better revenue for farmers.

Virunga now have now trained over 2,300 famers in GAP (Good agricultural practices) and obtained organic certification for these farmers in the Isale region. They have 7 full time field officers (trained agronomists) working in the region and have planted over 400,000 seedlings to be distributed amongst the smallholders in Isale.

Origin Democratic Republic of Congo
Subregion Isale, North Kivu
Producer Type Small Holder Farmers
Wet Mill Kahondo
Processing Washed
Plant Species Arabica
Variety Bourbon
Coffee Grade DRC CA WA KIVU G3
Screen Size 15 Up
Certifications Organic certified, AtSource Plus
Soil Volcanic
Bag Weight 60 KG BAG

The Region

Kahondo village is located in the Isale region of Nord-Kivu (North of Lake Kivu), on the edge of Virunga National Park, bordered by Uganda to the east. The region has excellent conditions for speciality arabica production with plentiful rainfall, high altitude and highly fertile volcanic soils. The region is also very pov- erty-stricken and has had a severe lack of infrastructure which has made high quality arabica both di - cult to produce and very challenging to export. Virunga Co ee Company has sought to overcome many of these problems through hands- on farmer education and investment in local infrastructure such as roads and bridges. This has allowed quality improvements every season and, in turn, higher premiums for farmers.

The Process

Ripe cherries are delivered to the station for careful sorting and floatation. Once the highest quality cherries are selected they are pulped to remove the skin and most of the fruit. The coffee is then placed straight onto raised African beds, retaining some of its sugary mucilage. This parchment coffee is then dried in the sun for an average of 14 days, until the optimum moisture content has been reached. At this point the coffee is rested in a cool, dry environment for 1-2 months, before being milled, sorted and graded by bean size.

  • Subregion Isale, North Kivu
  • Producer Type Small Holder Farmers
  • Wet Mill Kahondo
  • Processing Washed
  • Plant Species Arabica
  • Variety Bourbon
  • Screen Size 15 Up
  • Soil Volcanic
  • On Sale Yes
  • Top Lot No
  • Price Per Kg £6.50
  • Status Spot
  • Certifications Organic certified, AtSource Plus
  • Coffee Grade DRC CA WA KIVU G3
  • CTRM Contract Number P8001549-1
  • Origin Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Warehouse Vollers Group Uk