Norman Mukuru

Description

ORIGIN

Coffee is Uganda’s leading export crop, contributing significantly to the economy and is vital to the livelihoods of nearly two million people who directly or indirectly coffee rely on farming. The country is the sixth-largest coffee producer globally and has emerged as Africa’s top exporter of coffee in recent years after enjoying sustained investment and growth. The country enjoys a very favourable climate for coffee production and benefits from nutrient-rich volcanic soils. The landlocked country produced a more than six million 60-kilogram bags last year.

The majority of Uganda’s coffee is the indigenous species C. Canephora (Robusta) which grows wild around Lake Victoria and accounts for 80% of the country’s overall production.

However, the demand and need for the diversification into the cultivation of Arabica varieties (SL14, SL28, Nyasaland amongst others) is growing as the sector introduces more sustainable practices with a focus on raising both volume and quality. Despite this, Ugandan coffee farmers still face enormous challenges such as a rapidly changing climate, poor infrastructure, and rising costs; but are rising to the challenge as the increase in Ugandan specialty coffee production commands higher premiums and more income security for smallholder producers.

PRODUCER

In the lowlands approaching the foothills of Mt. Elgon, Norman Mukuru established The Coffee Yard, a huge centre for coffee processing and drying with a formidable reputation for consistently processing high quality naturals with a diverse range of cup profiles. For the past several years, The Coffee Yard has been working to showcase the outstanding flavour potential of the coffees that are cultivated across this mountainous region.

These coffees are sourced with the support of lead farmers, who are trusted individuals within their communities. They are selected for their trading skills and their ability to mobilise farmers. Lead farmers play an important role in selectively purchasing parchment locally, helping to maintain quality control closer to the source. Before each season, they receive training in quality assessment to ensure consistent standards. A second payment system, based on quality bonuses, is also in place to reward strong performance and encourage good agricultural and coffee processing practices.

Over many years, the Coffee Yard has supported smallholder producers in the region with training in good farming harvesting and post-harvesting techniques. Each annual harvest, farmers bring on average 1000kg of semi-dried cherry to the processing facility, where they are paid a premium for selecting only the ripest red cherry. The coffee is then dried further and turned until the optimum moisture content is reached before being milled. Once the exporter receives the processed green coffee, it is sorted further in a light-sensitive colour reader before being prepared for export to specialty markets worldwide.

ROAST

Sourced through our importing partners at Falcon Specialty, we are excited to present this second release from Uganda. We love this coffee for its flavoursome expression of the classic SL14 and SL28 varieties and have designed a roast profile to preserve the complexity in the cup. The sensory profile reminds us of notes of herbal verbena which is complemented by the citric zest of bergamot. There is a pleasant brown sugar sweetness in the finish which adds balance to the overall cup profile. Perfect for a range of immersion or filter brew methods.

Producer: Smallholder Producers

Cultivar: Nyasaland, SL14 e SL28

Altitude: 1300 – 1600m

Harvest: November – February

Notes: Verbena, Bergamot and Muscovado Sugar

Roast: Filter

Text from Olisipo Coffee Roasters' listing.