Burundi – Masha – Red Bourbon – Washed

Farm: Masha Washing Station

Masha Washing Station sits at 1,672 metres above sea level, where more than 1,100 smallholder farmers harvest exceptional Red Bourbon and mixed crops on tiny family plots. It’s a classic washed Burundi: clean, juicy and full-bodied, with the bright character and sweetness that make coffees from this region so distinctive.

Harvesting is done by hand, with families selectively picking ripe cherries from their 200–250 trees. Once delivered to the washing station, the cherries are floated and hand-sorted before being pulped within six hours. The coffee is then dry-fermented for up to 12 hours, washed and soaked in clean water before spending a further 12–18 hours soaking. Finally, the parchment is carefully dried on raised beds for two to three weeks, with quality closely monitored throughout.

Masha works with Greenco, which provides farmers with agronomic support, training and access to improved coffee seedlings and organic fertiliser made from composted coffee pulp. These programs help farmers gradually replace ageing trees and improve both productivity and quality. Greenco also buys 93% of its cherries directly from farmers through collection centres, helping improve the price received at the farm gate. Farmers receive staged payments for their coffee, with additional payments possible when exceptional lots achieve competition success or specialty prices. Masha has made many notable achievements in Burundi’s Cup Of Excellence competition, placing as high as 7th in 2017.

Tasting Notes: Refreshing lemonade acidity with green grape and sultana. Soft florals grounded by panela sweetness.