Gahahe

by Offshoot Coffee

Tasting Notes: Plum, Red Apple, SultanaCountry: BurundiRegion: Gahahe, KayanzaProcess: WashedVariety: Red BourbonElevation: 1800 masl Background Information Gahahe Washing Station, situated at 1,805 metres above sea level, is a benchmark of quality in northern Burundi. Equipped with ten fermentation tanks, soaking tanks, and over 180 raised drying tables, Gahahe can process up to 750 metric tons of cherry each season. The station supports a network of smallholder farmers who each tend to just 250 trees—often in their own backyards. The variety here is Red Bourbon, celebrated for its rich sweetness and complex acidity. However, many of these trees are over 50 years old, and the challenge of rejuvenating ageing rootstock is real. That’s why the team at Bugestal, who manage the station, invest heavily in supporting farmers—with initiatives like subsidised nurseries, organic fertiliser from composted coffee pulp, and access to agronomic training. Farmers deliver their freshly harvested ch