Burundi Shembati
Burundi Shembati is not your average African coffee by any means.
Burundian coffees generally have a considerable sweetness, and this coffee is an excellent example. This makes them great coffees for any method of brewing you prefer. I think it's fascinating.
The aroma is sweet, creamy cherry and spice. The cup is medium-bodied, and it has a punchy suggestion of a caramel chocolate cherry. The lingering finish smacks of spice with hints of baker's chocolate and nuttiness with every sip. It's remarkable, unusual, and delicious.
"Burundi Shembati is a very worthwhile addition to our repertoire." - Seth
"I never knew African coffees could be this SPECTACULAR!" - Naomi
Aroma: Sweet Creamy Spice and Cherry
Cup: Hints of Chocolate Cherry Caramel and a Punch of Spice
Finish: Lingering, with Hints of Baker's Chocolate and Nuttiness
About this Coffee
GROWER: Dukorere Ikawa Cooperative
REGION: Colline Burunga, Bururi Province, Burundi
ALTITUDE: 1,250 – 1,600 meters
PROCESS: Fully washed and dried in the sun
VARIETY: Bourbon
HARVEST: April - July
SOIL: Volcanic loam
CERTIFICATION: Conventional
Burundi Shembati is fully washed and sourced from family-owned farms organized around the Coffee Processing Company (CPC). The CPC was established in 2010 by Salum Ramadhan, who was born and raised in the Kayanza province of Burundi.
Salum operates 4 washing stations in Kayanza. All four stations reflect Salum’s passion for coffee and commitment to his community. Lots are meticulously separated fully traceable to harvest date and washing station. Each lot is classified through a strict protocol that includes hand sorting and floating the cherry. Depulped coffee undergoes a three-part fermentation process: 16 hours of dry fermentation, another 14 hours of fermentation with water, and then washed and soaked in fresh water for 10 hours.
Salum pays well above the government minimum for cherries and pays farmers extra to sort them. He also encourages the farmers to keep and process unused cherries for personal consumption or to sell in the local market. Salum has a nursery program to distribute seedlings to farmers. He has also been paying to build additional classrooms to alleviate problems with overcrowding in the schools.