About Coffee

This coffee comes from the Kigobe Washing Station in Burundi, serving around 600 smallholder farmers who are part of the Tugwizikawa cooperative—translated as “Let’s Rise Coffee.” The lot is produced under Kalico, a pioneering organization founded by Angèle Ciza in 2012 with a mission to elevate Burundi’s coffee quality while directly improving farmers’ lives.

Although Ciza passed away in 2022, her vision lives on through her son, Alexandre Shaka Mugisha, who now leads Kalico. The company works with seven washing stations across the region, known for producing exceptional washed, honey, and natural coffees. What sets this project apart is its strong social impact: about 70% of the producers are women, supported through agricultural training, environmental initiatives, micro‑finance programs, and scholarships that help pay school fees for girls. Essentials such as loincloths and farm animals are also provided to help sustain farming families.

This decaf is part of the Rotheca Project, a collaboration between Kalico, Phyllis Johnson of BD Imports, and RGC Importers, created to combat poverty and champion women‑produced coffee in Burundi. Each cup not only reflects the vibrant, fruit‑forward character of Burundi’s highlands but also honors a legacy of empowerment and progress in the country’s coffee community.