Masha: Burundi

This Fully Washed Red Bourbon lot comes from Masha Washing Station in the Kayanza province of northern Burundi. Like a glass of lemonade on a hot summer’s day – this coffee is fresh and vibrant with green grape and floral highlights and a sugary sweet base.

Perched at around 1,672 masl in the Gihororo area, the station collects ripe cherry from more than 1,100 smallholder farmers, most of whom grow coffee on tiny backyard plots of just 200–250 trees.

The name Masha comes from the Kirundi word ‘amasho’, meaning ‘herds of cattle’ – a nod to the area’s history as a crossroads for local herders. These days, Masha is better known for coffee than cows, thanks to consistently great quality and careful processing. Farmers interplant coffee with food and cash crops, and receive support via Greenco, who provide nurseries, affordable seedlings and organic fertiliser made from composted coffee pulp.

At the station, cherries are hand-picked and delivered daily, floated to remove defects, and hand-sorted before being pulped within six hours of arrival. The coffee is then dry-fermented, thoroughly washed, graded in channels and given a final soak before drying on raised beds under close supervision. This attention to detail, from farm to drying table, produces a cup that’s typically juicy, clean and full-bodied.

FINER DETAILS

• Origin: Gihororo, Kayanza Province, Burundi
• Produced by: Masha Washing Station
• Processing method: Fully Washed
• Variety: Red Bourbon
• Elevation: 1,672m above sea level
• Roasted for: Filter

FILTER SWEET SPOT:

Ratio: 1:16  |  Time: 3-3.30mins  |  Temp: 93°C