History & Origins
Kilimbi is the birthplace of Muraho Trading Company. This was the first CWS we built in March 2016.
Muraho Trading Company (MTCo.) is the brainchild of two brothers who were raised to call Rwanda home.
Kilimbi washing station is small but impressive. In 2016, its first year in operation, the station placed in the Cup of Excellence.
The station manager, Joseph Ntarindwa, has extensive experience with experimental processing methods and has been focusing on using unique processing methods to add value to the coffee Kilimbi processes.
In its short existence, Kilimbi has set a mark in the Rwanda specialty coffee industry. A multi barista competition used and award-winning station but most importantly, along with its big Sister Rugali were the first stations in Rwanda’s history to produce and export Natural and Honey processed coffee legally.
Further to this, Kilimbi is the first CWS in Rwanda to successfully produce black and red honey processed coffee. This pioneering work has influenced processing standards across the entire Rwandan specialty coffee sector.
Terroir & Growing Conditions
Kilimbi washing station is located on the shores of Lake Kivu, in the Nyamasheke district, western Rwanda.
The Nyamasheke District of western Rwanda stretches along the shores of Lake Kivu, where rolling hills, steady lake breezes, and fertile soils create ideal conditions for coffee cultivation. Farms sit between 1650 and 1850 meters above sea level, where cooler temperatures slow cherry development and build vibrant acidity and sweetness.
The lake plays a quiet but essential role, moderating the climate and shaping a region known for bright, clean, and expressive coffees.
Lake Kivu is unique for its potential for limnic eruptions, where gases trapped in the water could create dangerous explosions. This volcanic activity has enriched the soil, giving the coffee its vibrant acidity and bright flavors.
Kilimbi along with Gisheke are the only stations that get some coffee cherries delivered by boat from our Farmers through Lake Kivu. The unique terroir combines optimal elevation, volcanic soil minerality, and lake-moderated climate to produce coffees with exceptional clarity and brightness characteristic of the finest Rwandan lots.
Processing & Production
With an annual production of between 300 and 350 MT, the station serves 750 coffee growers who deliver cherries at this station.
Kilimbi has four full-time staff members and expands to 160 workers during the harvest season. Kilimbi CWS growers are paid on average 30% above the market price for their cherry.
Joseph, an agronomist, provides agricultural support for farmers delivering to the station and ensures that accepted cherry is of the highest quality.
At Kilimbi Washing Station, only peak harvest cherries are selected for the tradtion rwanda washed process. Cherries are chosen based on optimal sugar levels, depulped, washed, then slowly dried for 40 to 45 days on raised beds.
Once accepted, cherry is pulped on an ecopulper that minimizes the amount of water used to process coffee.
Kilimbi CWS was one of two washing stations (along Rugali) that received approval to produce honey and natural process coffees for the first time in Rwanda. The station’s processing expertise extends across all methods, with particular innovation in honey processing variations that leverage the station’s optimal elevation and climate.
Cup Profile & Tasting Notes
Grown along the shores of Lake Kivu, this Rwanda Kilimbi Washed showcases the clarity and elegance the region is known for. Freshly harvested cherries are carefully fermented and washed to highlight clean structure and refined sweetness, revealing notes of blood orange, kiwi, and almond butter.
Dried fruit, Christmas cake notes, brandy & hazelnut all compete for your attention, while deeper raspberries, gooseberries & other forest fruit provide some acidity & sweetness.
The station’s diverse processing methods yield distinct flavor profiles across lots. Washed coffees consistently display the bright acidity and clean finish Rwanda is celebrated for, while the pioneering honey and natural processes showcase deeper fruit complexity and enhanced sweetness. We are always impressed by the clean, elegant coffees we taste from Kilimbi and are proud to share this lot with our friends here in the UK and beyond. The combination of meticulous processing, optimal terroir, and innovative techniques produces coffees that exemplify modern Rwandan excellence while honoring traditional quality standards.