Gitesi – Rwanda

The coffee processed at the Gitesi Washing Station in Rwanda's Western Province is sourced from communal smallholder farmers, with over 1,800 farmers delivering cherry to the station. Owned by Alexis and Aime Gahizi, the station was established in 2005 and has since built strong relationships with the local farming community.

Aime's engineering background led to the development of an advanced water purification system, setting a standard for future stations. The station employs rigorous cherry reception and sorting procedures to maintain quality. In Rwanda, there is a tradition of producing only washed coffee, but in recent years they have started to produce natural processed coffee as well. This helps the washing station to widen their portfolio at the market which brings more customers, demand and money for their coffee. This natural lot is a fine example of their hard work and shows the true potential of naturally processed Rwanda coffee.

Gitesi emphasizes sustainability, being CAFÉ Practices and Rainforest Alliance certified. They provide various support programs for farmers and the local community, including coffee tree distribution, bonuses, farming materials, cows distribution, health insurance, and training. Additionally, they produce organic fertilizer from coffee pulp and offer programs for alternative income sources and education, ensuring both economic and environmental sustainability.