From the hills of Burundi: Introducing our Masha Washing Station Microlot
We’re excited to share our latest release from Burundi’s renowned Kayanza region — a washed Bourbon lot from Masha Washing Station, an area known for producing some of the country’s most vibrant and elegant coffees.
Grown in the hills of Gatara at 1,672 metres above sea level, this washed Bourbon lot reflects the conditions that make Burundi so special: high elevations, cool temperatures, rich soils, and generations of coffee-growing knowledge. These factors allow cherries to ripen slowly, creating dense beans packed with flavour and complexity.
Small Farms, Shared Effort
This coffee is the result of more than 3,200 local smallholder farmers delivering cherries to Masha Washing Station during harvest, which typically runs from April through June.
Each producer farms an average of just 297 coffee trees on around 0.11 hectares of land — incredibly small family plots where coffee is often the primary source of income. In Burundi, great coffee is rarely the work of one large estate. Instead, it is built through the combined effort of thousands of growers, each contributing their harvest to create one exceptional lot.
The Importance of the Washing Station
Because farms are so small, centralised washing stations play a vital role in quality. Freshly picked cherries are delivered to Masha, where processing begins immediately.
The cherries are first floated and hand sorted to remove underripe or damaged fruit before being depulped. The parchment coffee then undergoes a dry fermentation for around 12 hours to break down remaining mucilage.
After fermentation, the coffee is washed in clean mountain water and soaked for 12 to 14 hours, helping improve cup cleanliness and structure. It is then sorted again for density before a second soak of approximately 12 to 18 hours.
Finally, the coffee is dried slowly in parchment on raised beds for around 2 to 3 weeks, depending on weather conditions. During this time, the coffee is regularly turned and carefully monitored to ensure even drying and preserve quality.
In the Cup
Expect a clean, expressive profile with juicy fruit notes, refined sweetness, crisp acidity, and a silky finish.
More than Just a Coffee
This lot represents the work of thousands of farming families, careful processing at Masha Washing Station, and the unique growing conditions of Burundi’s highlands. It’s a coffee shaped by community, craftsmanship, and an exceptional region.