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Arthur Karuletwa

Male

Kigali

Rwanda

Profile Information:

What is your position in the coffee industry?: barista, coffee shop owner, industry professional, consultant
Where are you located? ( City and Country ): Kigali, Rwanda and Seattle WA
How many years have you been in the industry?: 8
If you are a barista or shop, are you interested in a barista exchange with another coffee shop/barista?: yes
Tell us more about your coffee shop or barista skills.: Crop to Cup industry expertise. Latte art/cupping/sensory analysis of green coffee, exporting and importing, Q grader
What cities or countries are you interested in traveling to?: Portland, Seattle, Addis, Kigali
About Me:: I was born a refugee in Uganda,but originally from Rwanda. Moved to Kenya as second string refugee when I was 2 years old. Moved back to Uganda as third string, only to go back to Rwanda after the 94 Genocide.
Left Rwanda in 96 on a BBall scholarship to California. Graduated and moved to Seattle, where I met my two loves; Amy my wife and Coffee!
Moved back to Rwanda to work with farmers, and built a coffee shop called Bourbon to showcase the "Rwanda Brand" of coffee we had helped develop in country post genocide.
About My Company:: Its the first coffee shop in Rwanda, third in East Africa, leading the industry in different new innovations, and first African coffee brand coming out to the US.
We do latte art, and serve our branded and company developed, "Signature Coffees of Rwanda"
Currently, "Single Source Country Exporting/Importing"-Rwanda.
What is your favorite thing about the coffee industry?: the people behind, inbetween and with the product!
Website:: http://www.rwandatrading.com

Comment Wall:

Steve MacDowall

Hello Arthur, welcome to the network, and greetings from Canada - Steve

Dec 19, 2008
Alun Evans

Hello Arthur, remarkable story! I hope things are politically more settled in East Africa now. Having spent time in 3 quite well known producing countries, you must have a wealth of knowledge about east African coffees. All the best to you, hope to meet you one day.

Dec 19, 2008
Matt Milletto

Hey Arthur! It's great to see you on barista exchange! I can't wait to catch up and hear about all that has happened since we last saw each other. Hope all is well with Bourbon Coffee and your family.

Dec 19, 2008
Lon LaFlamme

Aurthur,
I would love to get together when you are back in Puyallup to catch up on your world and the world of coffee in Africa.

Dec 22, 2008
Matt

hello arthur!
i will be moving to kigali n the next few weeks to work with technoserve and coffee farmers in rwanda, tanzania, kenya and ethiopia. are you currently in kigali? i would love to chat with you sometime before i leave the states, and then catch up when i arrive!
matt

Dec 31, 2008
Matt

hey arthur!
i am leaving the states to come live in kigali for a while. i would love to chat with you before i leave and the catch up when i arrive! hope all is well...
matt

Dec 31, 2008
Matt

awesome! i am actually leaving from jfk airport on the 23rd of january... what are you up to in boston? will you be at the eafca conference?

we will be leading a cupping training at the conference. i am so stoked to be headed to such an amazing place and working with such great folks! your words only make me more confident that i have made the right decision...

Jan 1, 2009
Matt

wednesday was my last bay at peet's! i am just trying to get everything ready in the next couple of weeks for me to leave...

Jan 2, 2009
Miguel Zamora

Hi Arthur,
I just heard that you have a great coffee shop in Kigali. I will be going there for EAFCA and look forward to checking out your shop. where is it located?

cheers

Jan 9, 2009
Matt

hey arthur... i am leaving tomorrow! i arrive in kigali on sunday. when do you plan on returning there? i look forward to sharing a cup of rwandan coffee with you!

Jan 22, 2009