New this year: Cyato Honey process, joining our traditional washed process lot! Cyato Washing Station sits in the Nyamasheke district of Rwanda's Western Province. The cherries delivered here come from farms at elevations reaching 2,200 meters above sea level, grown and harvested by Abadatezuka Cooperative, a group of smallholder farmers in the region. This lot is drawn exclusively from the cooperative's women-owned farms, and a premium is paid directly to the women—on top of the standard quality premium. In the cup, we found vibrant fruit notes of apricot, orange, and raisin, wrapped in syrupy caramel sweetness.

We're excited to share this special honey-process lot from women-owned farms in Rwanda. In Rwanda, the gender roles reinforced under colonial rule began to loosen after the 1994 genocide, and more women stepped into positions of power. Today, Rwanda is known for its high gender equality, though at the domestic level disparities remain in access to resources and opportunities. We're proud to have this coffee in our lineup, and even prouder to be building a long-term partnership with these people.

About Potato Taste Defect

Coffee grown in Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, or the DRC can occasionally have a unique taste defect called Potato Taste Defect (PTD). As the name suggests, PTD causes a raw potato-like note in both the aroma and taste of the coffee. It is caused by a small insect and the damage it causes to the coffee cherry. The defect is very difficult to detect during harvest, and we may not know it is present until the coffee is ground and the aroma of the roasted coffee is released.
While PTD can significantly affect the quality of the coffee, it is a completely natural occurrence and is nothing to worry about. We know and believe that this coffee has unique characteristics beyond the Potato Taste Defect, and we hope you will still have a great tasting experience with this Rwandan coffee.

Tip to minimise the impact of Potato Taste Defect: Dose a smaller amount of coffee and grind only a small portion at a time. If you detect a potato-like aroma, discard the ground coffee and use another portion of beans.