The National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) has announced the winners of the second edition of the annual Best of Rwanda National Specialty Coffee Competition, recognising the country’s 20 most outstanding coffees in this year’s prestigious event. The Best of Rwanda National Specialty Coffee Competition is designed to celebrate Rwanda’s coffee farmers, processors, and exporters, to showcase the country’s exceptional coffee to international buyers, and to boost its market value. The annual Best of Rwanda National Specialty Coffee Competition is organised by NAEB. The process begins with the submission of coffee samples by farmers, processors, and exporters from across the country. National coffee cuppers, led by an international head judge, evaluate the samples and select those that advance to the national jury stage. The top-ranked coffees are then declared winners. This year, 316 coffee samples were submitted from across the country. Of these, 50 advanced to the national jury after scoring at least 86.55 points. The top 20 coffees, each scoring above 87.49 points, will be sold to global buyers through an online auction scheduled for October 8, 2025. The winners include K ORGANICS in Huye District, Rwamatamu Coffee in Muhanga, Kivubelt Coffee in Nyamasheke, Simbi Coffee in Huye, Tropic Coffee in Nyamagabe, Mahembe Coffee in Nyamasheke, Dukundakawa Musasa in Gakenke, Baho Coffee in Rusizi, Tropic Coffee in Ngororero, Trapro Coffee Washing Stations in Nyamagabe, Tropic Coffee in Ruhango, Muhondo Coffee in Gakenke, Youth Coffee Club in Nyamasheke, Baho Coffee in Nyaruguru, Rwanda Trading Company in Rulindo, Twongere Umusaruro Wa Kawa in Kayonza, Fidelis Trust Ltd in Nyamasheke, Twongerekawa Coko in Gakenke, Kabila Coffee in Rulindo, and RWACOF from Rubavu District. Ignace Ndayahungwa, the leader of K ORGANICS, the first-place winner, said:“We are proud of the award, which is the result of our farmers’ efforts and community members, where we have over 130 workers. We have 73,000 coffee trees on over 28 hectares, on which we planted quality coffee seedlings approved by RAB. We use organic fertilisers and pesticides. We thank NAEB for organising such an awarding event, and our district for creating an enabling environment for investors in coffee farming.” NAEB Chief Executive Officer, Claude Bizimana, praised the dedication of Rwanda’s coffee community. “Each of the 20 top coffees is a testament to dedication, precision, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. In acknowledging this achievement, I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all stakeholders — our hardworking farmers, washing station managers, exporters, technical teams, jurors, partners, and sponsors — whose passion and commitment have made this competition possible,” he said. He said the aim of the competition is to create a competition and auction that would achieve three key objectives: namely, showcasing the unmatched excellence of Rwandan specialty coffee to the world; connecting the producers directly with premium international markets; and incentivising innovation and continuous improvement in coffee quality across the value chain. “In our first year, we achieved total auction sales of $165,544, with an average price of $24.70 per kilogramme, a top price of $71.80 per kilogramme, and 19 winning lots totalling 6,685 kilogrammes. Most importantly, we renewed global trust and demand for Rwandan coffee. These achievements confirmed not only the high regard for Rwandan coffee internationally, but also the effectiveness of the Best of Rwanda platform in linking our producers with premium markets,” he added. Orest Baragahorana, the Chairperson of the Coffee Exporters and Processors Association of Rwanda (CEPAR), said:“We are confident that this competition will have a strong impact on our farmers and the Rwandan coffee industry in general. Last year, we saw the impressive efforts and contributions from all of you, and the results were especially beneficial to our farmers, who earned higher incomes from their coffee. We believe this year’s results will be even more positive — thanks to better quality, improved processing techniques, and favourable international prices.” The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr Olivier Kamana, who attended the event as the Guest of Honour, stated: “We not only recognise the highest standards of coffee excellence but also affirm Rwanda’s commitment to quality, innovation, and market leadership in the specialty coffee world. Beyond the numbers, we see tangible impacts of the Best of Rwanda National Specialty Coffee Competition, including increased incomes for our coffee farmers, greater international visibility for Rwandan coffee, and stronger trust from some of the most discerning buyers in the world.” He added that the competition will motivate farmers to improve agronomic practices, encourage washing stations to invest in quality control, and inspire exporters to promote the very best of Rwandan coffee. “It also strengthens Rwanda’s reputation as a source of premium, traceable, and sustainably produced coffee — enabling us to build lasting relationships with top-tier buyers and roasters.” Isao Fukushima, the Ambassador of Japan to Rwanda, who spoke at the awarding ceremony, said this competition demonstrates the dedication and skill of Rwanda's coffee farmers, who are consistently striving for excellence. “Their hard work is reflected in the growing global demand for Rwandan coffee. The increased volume of exports and the growing popularity of Rwandan coffee on the international market clearly demonstrate the success of this initiative. The fact that 40 per cent of last year's winning lots were purchased by Japanese buyers is particularly noteworthy and signals the high regard in which Rwandan coffee is held internationally,” he said.
