Democratic Republic of Congo
MASL - 1500-2000
Usual processing methods - Washed, Natural
Democratic Republic of Congo or DRC (or even DR Congo as it’s affectionately become known as to some of our customers) is regarded as one of the wealthiest African countries due to its abundance of natural resources. However the effects of years of brutal colonialist dictatorship and more recent conflicts have created significant challenges for the agricultural sector. Exporting produce relies heavily on transport infrastructure, understanding and support from governmental departments and investment in quality throughout the supply chain.
While some regions of DRC are said to be a ‘paradise’ for coffee cultivation, the industry has suffered various set-backs so it’s always exciting to see speciality coffees from DRC on spot lists. Coffee growing in DRC has been a rollercoaster, from investment and research by Belgian colonialists in the 1800s and early 1900s - for their own enrichment and using enslaved Congolese people - to a thriving industry brought down by governmental greed in the 1960s. The industry grew again following changes to laws on how coffee was traded, becoming the country’s second most important agricultural export only to be beaten down again when civil war broke out.
You’d forgive any Congolese farmer for giving up on coffee after the many setbacks their industry has suffered. We’re over the moon that coffee growers in DRC have persevered, however. Deep, fruit-driven flavour and complexity abound in the Congolese coffees we’ve tried so far.
The current Congolese coffee we have to offer is brought to us by Cafe Imports who work with SOPACDI, an organisation of more than 5000 smallholder farmers. Recognising and working with potentially disenfranchised farming communities is at the heart of SOPACDI and this coffee is no different. This is from the Cafe Imports website where you can find out more information about their work with the co-op.
Pygmies' Coffee Project at SOPACDI:
These specific offerings come from a group of 105 Pygmy people (including 51 women) who live and farm in the villages of Mishebere and Ruhunde in the Kahele territory. Historically, Pygmy people have faced terrible discrimination and disenfranchisement, including being forced into slavery and/or low-paying work. SOPACDI has started this project to source and keep separate coffee from this group of growers in order to provide them a better income from specialty coffee as well as more financial independence and autonomy. The producers each own an average of 0.5 hectares and deliver coffee in cherry form to the washing station.
You can also find out more information about the history of coffee growing in DRC here