Rwanda Rulindo Washed Coffee
Apricot, lemon and black tea from Rulindo in northern Rwanda, a coffee with a story of rebuilding.
A washed coffee from Rulindo in the Northern Province of Rwanda, in hill country rebuilt around coffee. Clean, citrus-bright and sweet, it tastes of apricot and lemon with black tea and honey.
Sensory profile
How it unfolds
Where it sits
That is 94 mg in one serving (8 oz cup (240ml)), a concentration of 39.2 mg per 100 ml. The scale above ranks whole servings, and servings differ in size, so a larger drink can sit further right while being weaker cup for cup.
Editorial estimate, not a laboratory measurement
| Brewing method | V60 Pour-Over |
|---|---|
| Coffee-to-water ratio | 1:17 |
| Dose & yield | 14.4g → 240g |
| Grind size | Medium-fine |
| Water temperature | 199°F / 93°C |
| Target brew time | 3:00-4:00 |
| Serving | 8 oz cup (240ml) |
What you need
- 14.4 g whole coffee beans, freshly roasted
- 240 g filtered water at 93°C
Required gear
- Cone or flat-bottom dripper
- Paper filters
- Gooseneck kettle
- Burr grinder
- Scale accurate to 1 g
- Timer
- Server or carafe
Step-by-step protocol
- 0:00Rinse the paper filter with hot water, discard the rinse, and add 14.4 g ground medium-fine. Level the bed.
- 0:00Start the timer and pour 29 g of water at 93°C, wetting every part of the bed. Let it bloom.
- 0:45Pour in slow spirals up to 144 g total, keeping the bed submerged and the level steady.
- 1:30Final pour up to 240 g total. Give the dripper one gentle swirl to settle the bed flat.
- 3:30Drawdown should finish around here. Swirl the server and serve.
What it may be good for
The caffeine count
We list about 94 mg for an 8 oz cup.
A cup with a story
Rwanda's coffee sector was rebuilt with investment in washing stations and training, so a clean cup like this one reflects years of work by farmers and cooperatives.
What to watch out for
- Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much is right for you.
- Bright, high-acid coffees can feel sharp on an empty stomach for some people, so a little food with it helps.
A washed coffee from Rulindo in the Northern Province of Rwanda, in hill country rebuilt around coffee. Clean, citrus-bright and sweet, it tastes of apricot and lemon with black tea and honey.
Origin & Story
Rulindo is a district in Rwanda's Northern Province, hill country where coffee is a smallholder crop and where washing stations turn hand-picked cherry into clean, bright lots.
Rwanda's coffee sector was rebuilt from the ground up. After the 1994 genocide the country's economy had to be reconstructed, and coffee was one of the crops used to do it. Between 2001 and 2006 a USAID-funded project, the Partnership for Enhancing Agriculture in Rwanda through Linkages, invested about ten million dollars in washing stations and farmer training.
Today Rwanda has about 400,000 coffee smallholdings, and almost all of the crop is arabica, mostly Bourbon. Washing is what gave Rwanda its reputation: ripe cherry is pulped, fermented in water, rinsed and dried on raised beds, which leaves a clean cup.
The sector has kept moving since. Rwanda's first roasted coffee exports went out in April 2018, and the government partnered that year with Alibaba to sell coffee directly to consumers online, so more of the value now stays in the country.
Expect apricot and lemon first, black tea in the middle, and honey in the finish. Brewed on a V60 at 93°C, it is a cup to drink slowly as it cools.
Reading the Flavor Profile
| Axis | Score |
|---|---|
| Sweetness | 83/100 |
| Acidity | 86/100 |
| Bitterness | 18/100 |
| Body | 60/100 |
| Aroma | 94/100 |
These values are comparative editorial positions within our own catalog, calibrated so entries can be ranked against each other. They are not laboratory measurements.
How much caffeine is in Rwanda Rulindo Washed Coffee?
One serving, 8 oz cup (240ml), contains approximately 94 mg of caffeine.
What temperature should I use for Rwanda Rulindo Washed Coffee?
Target 93°C (199°F).
How long should Rwanda Rulindo Washed Coffee be extracted?
Timing: 3:00-4:00. Method: V60 Pour-Over. Ratio: 60g coffee per Liter. Grind or leaf format: Medium-fine.
How did coffee help Rwanda rebuild?
After the 1994 genocide, agriculture was one of the ways the country rebuilt its economy. From 2001 to 2006 a US-funded project invested about ten million dollars in washing stations and training for farmers, which helped Rwandan coffee reach specialty markets.
What does washed coffee from Rwanda taste like?
It tends to be clean, sweet and bright, with red fruit or stone fruit, citrus and black tea notes. Washing removes the fruit before drying, so the flavors are clearer than in a natural.
Who should avoid Rwanda Rulindo Washed Coffee?
Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much is right for you. Bright, high-acid coffees can feel sharp on an empty stomach for some people, so a little food with it helps. This information is educational and is not medical advice. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, managing a cardiac or gastrointestinal condition, or taking prescription medication, discuss caffeine and botanical intake with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes.
What people say
Hario V60 Size 02 Ceramic Dripper
In this recipe: Cone or flat-bottom dripper
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