Uganda Mount Elgon Coffee
Dried fruit, cocoa nib and citrus from the slopes of Mount Elgon, on Uganda's border with Kenya.
Uganda is best known for robusta, but its arabica grows high on Mount Elgon in the Bugisu region. This cup is dried fruit and cocoa nib with bright citrus and a molasses finish, and it suits a French press.
Sensory profile
You should taste
How it unfolds
Where it sits
That is 91 mg in one serving (8 oz cup (240ml)), a concentration of 37.9 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 | French Press |
|---|---|
| Coffee-to-water ratio | 1:17 |
| Dose & yield | 18g → 300g |
| Grind size | Medium-fine |
| Water temperature | 199°F / 93°C |
| Target brew time | 3:00-3:30 |
| Serving | 8 oz cup (240ml) |
What you need
- 18 g whole coffee beans, freshly roasted
- 300 g filtered water at 93°C
Required gear
- French press
- Burr grinder
- Kettle
- Scale
- Timer
- Long spoon for the crust
Step-by-step protocol
- 0:00Pre-heat the press, then add 18 g ground medium-fine.
- 0:00Pour 300 g of water at 93°C in one go and start the timer. Fit the lid without plunging.
- 3:15Break the crust with a spoon and skim off the foam and floating grounds.
- 3:15Press slowly — if it resists, stop pressing rather than forcing it.
- 3:20Decant every drop immediately into a warmed vessel. Coffee left on the grounds keeps extracting.
What it may be good for
How strong is it?
We list about 91 mg for an 8 oz cup.
A fuller-bodied cup
Brewed in a French press, this coffee has a fuller body than a paper-filtered brew, because the oils stay in the cup.
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.
Uganda is best known for robusta, but its arabica grows high on Mount Elgon in the Bugisu region. This cup is dried fruit and cocoa nib with bright citrus and a molasses finish, and it suits a French press.
Origin & Story
Uganda and coffee go back a long way. Robusta, the other main species, grows wild here, in the forests around Lake Victoria and in Kibale. Arabica came from Ethiopia and settled along the slopes of Mount Elgon, an extinct volcano on the border with Kenya, and the high arabica country around Bugisu is where this coffee grows.
Coffee is Uganda's top-earning export crop, and the Uganda Coffee Development Authority was set up in 1991 to oversee the industry after it was opened to private trade. Arabica is wet-processed: the cherries are pulped, washed and dried, then hulled and sorted. Around Mbale the harvest runs from August to November.
Robusta dominates Uganda's acreage. In the 1980s farmers grew about 191,700 hectares of it against 33,000 of arabica, and coffee wilt later struck nearly half of the robusta trees, with output falling from about 143,000 tons in 2000 to about 122,000 in 2004.
High altitude gives this coffee a citrus lift, and the flavors underneath are darker: dried fruit, cocoa nib and molasses.
A French press leaves the coffee's oils in the cup, which suits a coffee with this much body. Use a coarse grind, and pour the coffee off as soon as you have pressed it so that it does not keep extracting.
Reading the Flavor Profile
| Axis | Score |
|---|---|
| Sweetness | 86/100 |
| Acidity | 58/100 |
| Bitterness | 34/100 |
| Body | 78/100 |
| Aroma | 86/100 |
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 Uganda Mount Elgon Coffee?
One serving, 8 oz cup (240ml), contains approximately 91 mg of caffeine.
What temperature should I use for Uganda Mount Elgon Coffee?
Target 93°C (199°F).
How long should Uganda Mount Elgon Coffee be extracted?
Timing: 3:00-3:30. Method: French Press. Ratio: 60g/L (18g coffee to 300g water). Grind or leaf format: Medium-fine.
Is Ugandan coffee robusta or arabica?
Both. Most of Uganda's coffee is robusta, which grows at lower altitudes around Lake Victoria, while arabica grows on the high slopes of Mount Elgon in the east. This coffee is arabica.
What does Bugisu mean on a coffee?
Bugisu is the area around Mount Elgon in eastern Uganda where much of the country's arabica is grown. Coffee from there is often sold under that name.
Who should avoid Uganda Mount Elgon 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. 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
Bodum Chambord French Press
In this recipe: French press
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