KURASU - Nkara Soil Project Lot.1204 | Rwanda - Washed - Red Bourbon

This year, we sourced two lots from Rwanda. For the first release, we are pleased to introduce a coffee produced through the Soil Project at Nkara CWS.

The Soil Project is a sustainable initiative in which farmers create their own compost using coffee pulp—a byproduct of coffee production—and use it to grow coffee seedlings. The project began in 2023, when the team from ONIBUS COFFEE visited the region and helped launch the initiative. This coffee comes from the second harvest since the Soil Project was completed as a designated lot.

Nkara CWS, like Ruli CWS that we introduced last year, is a washing station managed by the Dukunde Kawa Musasa Cooperative. Both are located in the Gakenke District in northern Rwanda, yet their flavor profiles are subtly different. Last year’s Ruli lot stood out for its concentrated fruit sweetness, reminiscent of apricot and raisin. In contrast, this Nkara lot is characterized by juicy citrus notes, similar to Japanese mandarin orange and grapefruit, followed by a deep, lingering finish that recalls roasted hojicha tea. Rwanda is often thought to have relatively little regional flavor variation due to its small land area, but by introducing coffees year after year, we continue to sense the presence of distinct microclimates within the country.

With its juicy body and well-defined sweetness, this coffee has great potential not only as a filter brew but also when paired with milk. To highlight this versatility, we roasted it slightly more developed than Kurasu’s usual light roast. The result is a cup that is approachable even for those who don’t typically drink light-roasted coffee, and one we hope you’ll enjoy across a wide range of occasions.