Stage\Bonus\Majirane

Region: Buzi, Kalehe
Producer: Smallholders
Washing Station: Majirane
Cultivar: Bourbon
Process: Fully Washed
Elevation: 1576-1950 masl

Roast level: Extremely light
Roasted for: Mod Spro + Filter
Rec. rest: 21 days
Net weight: 100g

Tasting Notes: Honeysuckle, blackcurrant, mandarin orange, honey

Dry Fragrance/Wet Aroma: Floral, hint of fresh herbs
Acidity: Structured
Body: Juicy
Aftertaste: Long, honeyed

The dry fragrance opens with pronounced florals, led by honeysuckle and jasmine, layered with hints of citrus, honey, and a subtle fresh herbal edge. Upon brewing, the aromatics remain lifted and cohesive, balancing floral intensity with gentle sweetness.

On the palate, the cup begins with the darker, more saturated fruit character of blackcurrant, supported by a structured acidity that provides definition without sharpness. This transitions into a brighter, more expansive sweetness of mandarin orange, where the profile becomes juicier and more open. Throughout, a continuous thread of honeyed sweetness runs from front to finish, binding the progression together.

The body is juicy and clean, allowing the fruit and florals to remain clearly articulated. As the cup settles, the florals re-emerge, softening the structure and adding lift. The finish is long and honeyed, with lingering notes of citrus and delicate florals, resulting in a composed and well-integrated profile.

Founded in 2020 by Namwana Muvunga Feza along the northwestern shores of Lake Kivu in South Kivu, the Cooperative Agricole Majirane was established to organise and elevate the contributions of women in the community. Today, it represents around 500 coffee farmers, with 221 women whose involvement is not incidental but integral, spanning cultivation, processing, and cooperative leadership.

The cooperative's founding mission extends beyond coffee production to directly address gender equity in agriculture. Women are helped by Majirane to understand and appreciate their role, their rights, and their significance in agricultural work, particularly in the coffee sector. A spirit of self-help and entrepreneurship is sought to be developed among women in the community through both practical training and organizational support, ensuring that equal access to resources and decision-making authority is provided.

This lot placed first at the 2025 Best of Congo competition, earning a score of 88.25 points. This achievement, reached just five years after the cooperative's founding and three years after their first production, reflects the meticulous quality control work undertaken by members throughout cultivation and processing. Coffees from 20 participating cooperatives were featured in the competition and judged by cupping juries in New York and Goma under rigorous evaluation protocols, making Majirane's first-place finish a tangible demonstration of their commitment to excellence.

Infrastructure development was begun in 2021 with the construction of the first washing station at Buchiro, which contains 12 drying tables, followed by a micro-station at Kishinji with 5 tables and capacity for 5 more. Coffee seed multiplication and tree distribution to members are actively being worked on by the cooperative, with both increased production and reforestation being aimed at in the fight against global warming. Through the emphasis placed on women's essential contributions and the pathways provided for their advancement, a more equitable and sustainable coffee economy in the Democratic Republic of Congo is being built by Majirane.

Sourced from: Coffee Libre
We paid: S$35.97/kg
Roasted cost: S$56.97/kg

Moisture content: 10.5%
Weight loss: 11.4%
Agtron: W83.0 G126.2 △43.2