Sustainable Growers Rwanda and Question Coffee in partnership with Japan International Cooperation Agency and National Export Agricultural Board (NAEB) have today organized a coffee celebration day aimed at bringing together all key players throughout the coffee chain from the time the seedling is planted to the time of enjoying the cup of coffee. The theme of International Coffee Day 2019 highlights the mistreatment of coffee farmers, the danger they are facing for their living and the ultimate need to take collective actions.
Whereas the International Coffee Day is celebrated every October 1, it was however celebrated on October 11 in Rwanda. This has been at the premises of Question Coffee in Gishushu just close to the new Gasabo District Headquarters and was attended by several players in the coffee industry including baristas who engaged in a competition where the best were awarded. Celebrating International Coffee Day in Rwanda particularly is a good occasion not only to recognize farmers' efforts and other actors in the coffee value chain in promoting the coffee sector but it is also another good opportunity to increase coffee domestic consumption and encourage Rwandans to drink and enjoy their coffee.
The event was organized by a wide range of coffee lovers, farmers, processors, roasters, baristas, tourists and many other partners that gave coffee in their attributions. Speaking at the coffee celebration day, Christina Condo the East Africa Regional Director, Sustainable Growers Rwanda hinted on the need to promote and increase the locally grown coffee as a way of tackling the global challenges on coffee. ‘’As we celebrate International Coffee Day, we need to promote and increase domestic consumption of the coffee we grow in Rwanda as one way to tackle the existing global challenges in coffee,’’ she said. The coffee celebration day has been an opportunity to interact with the brains behind their favorite cup of coffee since they never often get the chance to do so.
A total of eight producers from leading cooperatives attended the event and answered all the questions guests had about coffee. These included Nyampinga, Twongere Umusaruro wa Kawa, Mayogi Coffee, Gashoma, Gisunga, Abakundakawa Rushashi, Twongerekawa Coko and COCAGI. The guests at the event were assisted by some professional baristas in many coffee activities that were taking place at the event which included demonstrations of different coffee brewing methods, tasting espresso-based drinks that were in different formats among others.
About Sustainable Growers and Question Coffee
In 2013, Bloomberg Philanthropies and Sustainable Harvest® Coffee Importers partnered to create Sustainable Growers, a non-profit committed to transforming the lives of women coffee farmers from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo through training and access to international coffee buyers. Question Coffee was created by Sustainable Growers to provide a retail market outlet for the women’s coffee, a training space for farmers and coffee professionals, and a chance for visitors to discover some of the world’s best coffee.