Warawul would not exist in its current form without the discussions that Aimé, the director of the Gitesi Coffee Washing Station, and I had, when we met in Kigali in November 2022.

Back then, Warawul was just an idea. We exchanged on how a meaningful relationship between producers and roasters would have to look like.

The ideas resulting from these discussions would later form the fundamental values and ideas behind Warawul. That is a business based on a direct and personal relationship, mutual respect and risk-sharing across the coffee value chain.

Now, two years later, I find myself back in Rwanda. This time with the purpose of meeting up again with Aimé, visiting the Gitesi Coffee Washing Station and, to give Aimé the opportunity to tell the story of Gitesi Coffee in his own words.

It is very humbling to see the work that goes into producing specialty coffee. From planting and growing coffee trees on the steep mountain slopes in difficult terrain to the care taken during the processing, meticulous sorting, and drying of coffee beans.

Gitesi Coffee employs around 100 people from the local community who do quality management, agronomy, planting and coffee processing. Additionally, thousands of smallholder farmers depend on the washing station to buy the cherries they grow in their small plots of 200 to 300 coffee trees.

Most of them never get to enjoy the specialty coffee they contribute to produce. Still, they are in contact with it every day. I believe that the bare minimum we can do is to recognize everyone’s contribution to producing high quality coffee.

But this recognition also needs to be followed by a more thoughtful approach to how we buy coffee. That is why we at Warawul let producers determine prices themselves, commit to purchasing quantities well in advance, and aim to build long-term relationships.

This is to follow up the recognition with a business relationship based on mutual respect, trust and shared values so that the risk of producing coffee is mitigated and shared across the value chain and that stable and high prices help create lasting value in producing regions. All while we can deliver you a cup of tasty Single Farm and Single Origin specialty coffee.