Filter (Faustin Ribilimana)

Written By Sunghwan Min

This is one of the best Rwandan coffee I’ve had recently.

As most of the industry focuses on its neighbors in Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia, it’s easy to overlook the quality this country offers—and I’m no exception.

But the quality of this cup speaks for itself. It’s a washed coffee that is super sweet and silky, showcasing Market Lane’s signature delicate style. This coffee sets a standard for pushing Rwanda’s quality, which should get everyone excited.

What makes this coffee so special is that it’s a single-producer coffee. This is quite rare in Africa, where the cooperative model is the norm. However, with the buying power and strong, genuine relationships that Melbourne Coffee Merchants have, Market Lane is able to source exceptional coffees like this.

(my recipe below)

My Recipe:

constants for this brew:

  • dripper: v60

  • Grinder and grind size: 1zpresso zp6 at 5.9

  • Water: Soft melbourne tap water through a Brita with 3 drops of APAX Lylac

  • Ratio: 15g to 250 out 1:16.7

  • Temp: 92 degreees celcius

  • Silverskin blown away (this coffee has a lot of it)

  • next pour starts when water drains (besides first pour that depends on bloom time)

Pouring: 45g/160g/250g (40s bloom)

  • quick saturation for 45g with fast pour

  • slow flow rate with just circle pours for both 2nd and 3rd pour.

  • Brewtime: 2:35s

  • TDS: 1.2%

  • EY: 20.0%

Roaster’s Remarks:

Origin: Northern Province, Rwanda

Producer: Faustin Ribilimana

Variety: Red Bourbon

Process: Washed

Tasting note: silky texture, notes of tangerine and black tea, and a honey finish.

We’re very excited to be offering coffee from producer Faustin Ribilimana for the first time. Having grown up in a prominent coffee-producing family, Faustin has over four decades of experience growing coffee. He is meticulous in his practices; his is one of the most methodically planted farms we’ve ever visited in Rwanda.

It’s rare to be able to offer a single-producer coffee from Rwanda. It’s possible in this case because of the size of Faustin’s farm, which is roughly double the local average, with 1240 trees. It’s also made possible by the Dukunde Kawa Cooperative (of which Faustin is a member), who operate their own dry mill, where they’re able to process smaller individual lots.

We selected this lot off the cupping table on a recent visit to Rwanda, and there was immediate consensus among our coffee-buying team – this coffee is outstanding! We love its silky texture and sweet, delicate cup profile, and we hope to share Faustin’s coffees for many years to come.  

Sunghwan Min
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Espresso (Santa Monica)