Businde is a coffee washing station in Burundi’s Kayanza District that’s been going strong for over a decade. It’s not just any washing station—Businde has been a Cup of Excellence award winner and is unique for having its own plot of young coffee plants. Usually, smallholder farmers sell their cherries to washing stations, but Businde stands out with this extra touch.
Most farmers who work with Businde live within three miles of the station, which is typical in Burundi. The cherries for this coffee come mainly from Masasu Hill in the Muyinga District, grown by over 650 local farmers. This season, those farmers earned 20% above the local market rate, while Businde’s staff got paid nearly 60% more than the typical rate for casual labor in Burundi—a big deal for the community.
Once the cherries arrive at Businde, they go through strict quality controls. For this particular lot, the coffee was fermented for 12 hours after pulping and dried on African raised beds for 20 days. The result? A coffee that’s as exceptional as the care and effort put into making it.