Rwanda Natural Filter from Horizon Kigoma

Rwanda offers ideal conditions for coffee cultivation, including high altitudes, regular rainfall, nutrient-rich volcanic soils, and an abundance of Bourbon coffee varieties.

Most of Rwanda's coffee is produced by smallholders, estimated to number around half a million. These farmers typically manage parcels of land no larger than one hectare per family. Coffee is grown throughout the country, with particularly high concentrations along Lake Kivu and in the Southern Province.

Smallholders often organize into cooperatives and rely on centralized wet mills, known locally as washing stations, to process their coffee. Flowering occurs between September and October, with the harvest running from March to July. Shipments typically begin in August and continue through December.

Horizon Supreme is a washing station located in the hills of Southern Rwanda. Its high altitude and favorable rains contribute to some of the finest quality coffee in the region.

The station is owned by Leo Fidele Ndagijimana, who purchased it in late 2018 after years of inactivity under the previous owner. Fidele repaired and upgraded the mill’s machinery, drawing on his experience managing washing stations in Western Rwanda to establish new quality standards. He named the station "Horizon" to reflect his vision for processing exceptional coffee.

The station processes cherries from small local farmers and organizes lots by the week of delivery. For the next harvest, the Horizon team plans to enhance and scale the systems they've implemented.