Flavour notes:
Orange blossom, cooking apple, caramel. Bright & Velvety.
Origin: Uganda
Region: Mount Elgon, Eastern Uganda
Farm: Small holder farmers
Process: Washed
Altitude: 1950 - 2100 masl
Varietal: SL28, SL34
Green coffee importer: Covoya
This coffee is a true testament to the remarkable potential of Mount Elgon, delivering a velvety and bright cup that will brighten your day. Experience delightful notes of crisp toffee apple, zesty lime, and sweet raspberry. It's a clean, elegant, and beautifully balanced coffee.
From Remote Peaks to Your Cup: The Bukhanakwa Story
This exceptional lot is sourced from a small, dedicated community of farmers in Bukhanakwa, a remote yet thriving area high on Mount Elgon in Eastern Uganda. These farmers are vital partners to Covoya’s long-standing collaborators, Zukuka Bora Coffee Company. Their commitment is clear: farmers are paid a good price with a bonus, ensuring fair compensation and encouraging consistent quality that's seen production increase year on year. The introduction of this direct buying relationship has been met with huge enthusiasm in Bukhanakwa, reviving a practice not seen in decades.
Mount Elgon: A Terroir of Distinction
Mount Elgon, an ancient extinct volcano straddling the border with Kenya, provides an unparalleled terroir for coffee cultivation. Its massive base and gentle slopes nurture thousands of smallholder farmers, with Arabica coffee thriving between 1,200 and 2,200 metres above sea level. The fertile volcanic soils, abundant rainfall, high altitude, and plentiful sunshine all contribute to the excellent conditions that produce such remarkable beans.
Uganda's Coffee Renaissance: Quality Over Quantity
Uganda's coffee journey has been one of inspiring transformation. While once a powerhouse of commodity coffee, the focus has dramatically shifted. After a period where quality was compromised due to lack of incentive, producers, inspired by the growing specialty industry, are now committed to excellence. This renewed dedication has led to the establishment of modern washing stations, innovative cupping labs, and strong cooperatives. Today, Rwandan specialty coffees consistently rank among the finest in the world, proving that ideal growing conditions are now being fully realised.
The Washed Process: Precision in Every Step
For this Bukhanakwa lot, ripe coffee cherries are meticulously hand-harvested and delivered to the wet mill. They are then carefully floated to remove any under-ripe beans, pulped, and immediately dried on shaded, raised beds for an average of 21 days. This precise washed process ensures a clean, bright, and expressive cup that truly allows the coffee's natural flavours to shine. After drying, the coffee rests for approximately one month before meticulous dry milling and bagging for export.
Beyond the Cup: A Partnership for Progress
The purchase price of this coffee includes a dedicated premium that directly funds social projects in the Bukhanakwa community. The Zukuka Bora Coffee project, working closely with their partner NGO, JENGA Community Development, supports vital initiatives including education sponsorship, clean water schemes, savings groups, health promotion, and wider farming assistance across the Mount Elgon area.
By choosing this coffee, you're not just enjoying an incredible brew; you're contributing to a thriving and sustainable future for these communities.