Sandwiched with Rwanda between Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo lies the Republic of Burundi, a small ex-Belgian colony whose economic livelihood depends on coffee more than the remainder of its industries combined. One of the four poorest nations in the world across multiple economic indices, the coffee trade functions as a lifeline for nearly 55 percent of Burundians.
Due to the country’s size, the beans can still be hard to find in spite of the proportional importance of coffee to the Burundian economy, especially as 2014 was a lower yield year for Burundi’s coffee farmers. Nevertheless, Burundi is slowly earning recognition as a producer of some excellent coffees. Here are three Northwest-roasted takes to try now.
Burundi Angele Ciza: Roasted by Ghost Town Coffee Roasters (my top pick among the ten best coffee shop names in last week’s article), the name of this roast in particular comes from the woman who grows these beans in northern Burundi. “She is rare in that she owns the land she farms on,” says Ghost Town. “Employing about 100 women and helping to pay school fees for the children of her employees she is making a difference in the lives of many Burundi families.” Like many Burundian coffees, chocolatey flavors also betray fruit and floral notes—in this case, cherries and hibiscus take center stage. || $11.50/12oz || Ghost Town Coffee Roasters, Bozeman, MT
Burundi Kalico Murago: Also from a privately woman-owned company, Ristretto’s Burundi beans are grown high in the hills of the Muyinga growing region near the Tanzanian border. The resultant medium-bodied coffee brews malty, fruity and full of brown sugar. || $15.90/12oz || Ristretto Roasters, Portland
Ndava & Ngogoma, Burundi: A recent favorite of local coffee subscription service Bean Box, Slate Coffee Roasters’ Burundian offering displays a medium sweetness and flavors of chocolate and toasty graham cracker—as Bean Box puts it, “just a marshmallow short of a s’more.” || $12.50/250g || Slate Coffee Roasters, Seattle
