Community Coffee Rwanda
February 7, 2009 by Marye Audet
Filed under Coffee
This was the second coffee that I tried from Community Coffee. FIrst of all, if it has been awhile since you tried their coffees they ahve a totally different flavor than they used to. I loved the Sumatra that i got.
The Rwanda is a medium roast. I was interested to read that the coffee trees used were form fifty year old root stock. That guarantees that there has been no tampering with the DNA!
But there is more. This is from the website:
After the civil war and genocide of 1994 in Rwanda, Community Coffee Company took steps to cultivate personal and business relationships with the country’s coffee growers. In fact, we were the first U.S. coffee company to import Rwandan coffee beans. In order to help with the recovery, we offered to pay premium prices for Rwandan beans. Our partner, the Maraba Coffee Cooperative, distributes these proceeds responsibly and evenly throughout its local community with one-third of the monies received used for medical, educational and social programs.
I was all set to love the Rwanda coffee even though it was a medium roast.
The beans were dry looking and less oily than the Sumatra that I tried. In fact there was no oil visible.
This has a nice aroma with a faint smokiness and the coffee brews up dark. The coffee has a distinct flavor and a definite acidity.
In trying to come up with the flavors I have typed and erased several words. It is very unique. Herbal and woody come to mind, with an aftertaste that is almost like grapes. This is not the rich coffee that the Sumatra was. This is an afternoon pick me up cup, bright and lively. Definitely not one to pair with pastries or sweets.
This would be a good coffee to enjoy with a full flavored sandwich ( maybe rye and swiss). It is not my favorite. I prefer the rich, smooth coffees and this one is too in your face for my taste. But it is an excellent coffee in its own right, and well worth trying. But try it soon. This is a seasonal coffee and will only be available through March.
images:marye audet (c)2009
