Rwanda is popping its best espresso into a much bigger export alternative, with the nation’s high specialty tons recognised on the third Better of Rwanda Nationwide Specialty Espresso Competitors because it seeks to lift the worth and world profile of its espresso.
The Nationwide Agricultural Export Improvement Board (NAEB) chosen 25 excellent coffees from 320 samples submitted from throughout the nation, with the successful tons set to be bought to world specialty espresso consumers at a dwell public sale on October 21, 2026.
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Within the Particular Course of Class, an Anaerobic Pure espresso from Ok-Organics in Huye District emerged first with a rating of 90.74 factors, whereas Nice Espresso Farmers Ltd – Cyeza Espresso Washing Station's in Muhanga District topped the Absolutely Washed class with 89.74 factors.
From the farm to the worldwide stage: Winners share their journey
Evariste Karangwa, proprietor of Ok-Organics, whose espresso received the Greatest Processed Espresso class for the second time – because it additionally received it final 12 months – emphasised the significance of cautious harvesting and processing to keep up high quality.
“To make sure high quality espresso, we should harvest cherries at full maturity. Harvesting too early or too late impacts the espresso's high quality and style. Well timed processing is equally essential; espresso ought to be washed quickly after harvesting to forestall high quality deterioration,” he mentioned.
“We additionally be sure that espresso is correctly ready and dried, avoiding extended publicity to the solar. Farmers should comply with the precise processing practices and be sure that espresso is totally washed and dealt with rigorously at each stage. Sustaining high quality requires consideration from harvesting via processing,” he added.
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Esther Uwimana, from Cyeza Espresso Washing Station in Muhanga District, mentioned:
“I’m very excited. Now we have invested vital effort in producing high-quality espresso for the totally washed class. We work carefully with farmers all through the farming course of, supporting them to use fertilisers and enhance their practices,” she mentioned.
“We additionally be sure that farmers ship ripe espresso cherries on time. Whereas on the washing station, we rigorously wash and course of the espresso to attain the best doable high quality,” she added.
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Orest Baragahorana, Chairperson of Espresso Exporters and Processors Affiliation of Rwanda, recommended NAEB for organising the Better of Rwanda Espresso competitors, saying the initiative has helped increase the profile of Rwandan espresso in worldwide markets, join exporters with extra consumers and create alternatives to develop gross sales.
He additionally recognised the contribution of farmers, washing stations and cuppers whose mixed efforts assist preserve the standard of Rwandan espresso
“Better of Rwanda Espresso has helped showcase this high quality internationally and add worth to our espresso. We should now work collectively to maintain these good points and proceed bettering,” he mentioned.
The journey in direction of increased worth espresso
The Better of Rwanda Nationwide Specialty Espresso Competitors is an annual initiative organised by NAEB to establish, recognise and promote Rwanda's distinctive coffees, showcase them on the worldwide stage, increase market alternatives, contribute to elevated espresso export revenues, and recognise the efforts of espresso farmers, processors and exporters whereas strengthening the nation's fame within the world specialty espresso market.
The method begins with the submission of espresso samples by farmers, processors, and exporters from throughout the nation. Nationwide espresso cuppers, led by a world head decide, consider the samples and choose those who advance to the nationwide jury stage. The highest-ranked coffees are then declared winners.
Talking on the award ceremony, the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Sources (MINAGRI), Telesphore Ndabamenye, emphasised the strategic significance of espresso to Rwanda's economic system and livelihoods, in addition to the nation's ambition to extend the worth earned from each amount of espresso exported.
“The federal government recognises espresso as a nationwide strategic commodity with the potential to contribute considerably to Rwanda's economic system and to the livelihoods of Rwandans. We additionally intend to double our common export value,” he mentioned.
“Allow us to work collectively in order that, within the years to come back, Better of Rwanda turns into one of the anticipated occasions within the world espresso calendar, a benchmark for high quality and a logo of what collaboration and dedication can obtain.”
The ambition is already mirrored within the outcomes of the competitors's earlier editions. Winners from the primary two editions fetched fetched $71.8 per kilogramme in 2024 and $88 per kilogramme in 2025, demonstrating the rising market worth and world curiosity in Rwanda's distinctive specialty coffees, in line with NAEB.
