Posted by: Steve Hawthorne

Andrew Carnegie was an innovative entrepreneur in the railroad business during the late 1800s. He is often remembered for the remark, "Pioneering dont pay." While this may be true for mass production businesses, it couldn’t be farther from the truth in the world of specialty coffee.

Our latest Factory Reserve was sourced for us by our friends at Café Imports in Minneapolis. Their team is constantly on the hunt for unique, treasure coffees all over the world. After several trips (and many cuppings!) to Africa, they were able to find this amazing coffee from the country of Burundi. This coffee was grown in the Kayanza region in northwestern Burundi, just south of the Rwandan border. More than 3500 smallholder farms deliver their crops to this washing station where the cherries are fully washed and then sun dried on raised drying tables called African Beds.

Burundi is a coffee growing region to be watched...until recently, smallholder farms could only sell coffee by mixing with other farms and selling in large lots. Now, washing stations are able to keep lots separate, resulting in a much higher quality coffee.

We received samples of this coffee earlier this week and cupped them immediately...the result is a truly unique cup with a very bright flavor. Hints of pineapple and cedar can be detected while enjoying coffee from the up and coming coffee region of Burundi!

We're very excited to bring you our latest Factory Reserve. It will be available beginning Friday, March 20. Pick up a bag Online or in Our Stores!