Like much of coffee production in Africa, Burundi’s coffee history is tied to colonialism – first introduced by the Belgians in the 1930s, coffee now makes up more than 80% of exports from the small, landlocked country. The backbone of Burundi’s coffee production are smallholder farmers – growing coffee in small gardens, tended by family.   

This coffee represents a new relationship for us – sourced through JNP Coffee. Founded by Jeanine Niyonzima-Aroian in 2012, JNP is committed to both sourcing exceptional coffees from Burundi, as well as encouraging transformational change for local coffee farmers by promoting gender equality, supporting financial literacy education and developing leadership skills. Turihamwe, which means “together” in Kirundi, is a lot made up entirely by women coffee farmers and processed in Burundi’s first washing station built and owned by women farmers. Seven women pooled their savings from their JNP Coffee premiums to build their own wet mill in 2019. 

Now they control the quality of their coffee and this stage of the supply chain. The result is an exceptional coffee that features the sweet and citrus flavors so prized by specialty coffee drinkers. Through their small investment group, Turihamwe Turashobora, these businesswomen plan to use future premium earnings to increase production from five micro-lots to 1,200 bags a year.