Kongo Kivu Blue Mountain

A naturally dried coffee from a country we rarely associate with specialty coffee – which makes it extra exciting to highlight these small-scale growers. On their farms, located around Lake Kivu, they grow coffee in volcanic soils rich in organic matter. The plantations are located at an altitude of 1,850–2,050 metres above sea level, in a tropical climate that gives the coffee its natural sweetness and rich flavour profile. 

The beans come from an area classified as a red zone – Congo is a country marked by conflict. The coffee therefore also becomes a symbol of resilience and hope, from farmers who continue to cultivate their land despite difficult circumstances. All coffee is hand-picked and processed directly on the farms.

BACKGROUND

This coffee is truly special: every bag represents a challenge overcome in the face of war. Amid conflict, displacement, drought, and instability, these small-plot farmers have produced an extraordinary specialty coffee Nn Kiniezire (2,000 mt.s.l), on the shores of Lake Kivu in the Kalehe region.

Growers kept working despite the armed occupation by Rwandan M23 rebels, which since January 2025 has forced more than 1.7 million people to flee and disrupted the lives of entire communities. And yet, the producers never stopped caring for every single cherry—selecting and processing each lot to maintain the quality standard that binds us together.

The exporting company Makeda chose to stand with these producers: investing in Kivu is their concrete response. They are the only export company in the world that have managed to export coffee from this war-driven are. And what a coffee they have exported, so full of red fruits, sweet caramel and almonds!

Makeda is an exporting- and importing company that are focused on buying sustainable coffee from Congo. The people behind the company are film-makers, and their coffee journey started with them doing a documentary about these brave coffee producers. Makeda now exclusively import and promote the very fine specialty coffee from these small producers in this conflict zone.

We are very happy to support them and hope you will enjoy this coffee as much as we do.