Rwanda Fugi Ikizere Washed(2026)

Region: Nyaruguru, Rwanda

Producer: 115 woman-owned smallholder farms delivering cherry to Fugi Washing Station, exported by Baho Coffee 

Varietal: Red Bourbon

Process: Washed 

Tasting notes: Blueberry, hojicha, sarsparilla 

Producer info and cup notes: 

Fugi Washing Station:
Operated by Baho Coffee in Rwanda, Fugi station sits between the Nyungwe National Forest and the border of Burundi. Led by Emmanuel Rusatira, Baho Coffee began exporting highly traceable microlots back in 2019 to Sundog Coffee Traders in the United States. Putting together an impressively organized network of farmers throughout local "hills" in Rwanda, Baho works to separate farmer's production into different groups organized by quality and climate. This system functions quite similarly to Long Miles Coffee Project, and it's proven to work when farmers are treated well and paid higher prices. Fugi station offers a higher upfront price per kilo for cherry, as well as a second payment bonus once the coffee has been processed and sold. Farmers selling cherry to Fugi also gain access to specialty coffee training programs, healthcare stipends and agronomy training from a full time specialist on-site. The continued investment that this project provides incredible value to its community while ensuring the future remains bright for Rwandan specialty coffee.  

Ikizere, meaning "confidence" in the Kinyarwanda language, was the name given to this women's producer group 5 years ago, as it started out representing solely single mothers and widows. As the group has grown, it now includes women-led family operations as well. Now at 115 members, benefits for the Ikizere group have now grown to include financial education, short term loans, and building clean water lines to farms that previously had no running water. The farms selected for this seperation range from 1,700-2,000masl and have a very high quality potential. Starting with handpicking and sorting, this lot first underwent a flotation step to remove defects and then an 8 hour in-cherry fermentation underwater. After being put through moving water sorting channels, it underwent another 12 hour underwater fermentation. After an initial shaded drying step that lasted 12-72 hours, this coffee was dried on raised beds for an additional 28 days. Fugi Ikizere was our favorite Rwandan lot last year, offering an intensely clean and green tea forward cup. This year's production skews slightly more blue-tasting, with notes of hojicha and iron goddess instead, and a huge blueberry note up front. The cleanliness of this cup easily puts it first again for me, and the unique profile will make it one to remember.