Key origin info:

Producer: small-holder growers based around the Bukyabo area in Sironko District
Processed at: The Coffee Gardens central washing station in Kyambogo Village

Region: Sironko District, Eastern Uganda
Altitude: 1800-2200 masl

Variety: SL14, SL28 & Nyasaland
Process: Cherry Pulp Co-Ferment; de-pulped with the removed skin (pulp) added back into the fermentation tank, fermented for 23hr before being dried on raised beds in a covered solar dryer

Exporter: The Coffee Gardens | Importer: Falcon Speciality

Cup profile: Silky & sweet, golden syrup & red grapes

About this coffee:

This lot is composed of coffee cultivated and harvested by around 200 small-holder farmers and processed at the The Coffee Gardens’ central washing station in the Sironko district, on the slopes of Mount Elgon. This particular lot is named after Jackie Nafuna*, TCG’s Field and Processing Officer, in appreciation of her dedicated work. It is processed using an experimental method where the cherry skin removed during de-pulping is added back into the tank to co-ferment together with the coffee for 23hrs before it is washed and dried. And the result is a wonderfully classy and delicious fruit-forward cup!

*Jackie began her journey with us as a day labourer and we immediately could see her potential. Now, during the harvest season, Jackie supervises up to 50 workers at the station, ensuring the meticulous sorting, drying and tracking of each batch of coffee. In the off-season, Jackie is tasked with training farmers and collecting data. A few years ago, Jackie purchased her own land and planted coffee, which she now delivers to the station for processing.

About The Coffee Gardens:

The Coffee Gardens project was established in 2017 by three friends - Dana, Michael and Shak - with the goal to produce specialty coffee in an ethical way, offering a transparent and direct link between our coffee farmers and coffee drinkers. Initially working with only 1 farming family in their first years, the operation quickly grew and now they work with over 600 growing families.

As the team explains:

Quality is our reason for being. It allows us to pay farmers high prices and still invest in agricultural, social and environmental activities. Of course, the foundation of a good coffee is fresh, red, ripe cherries full of sugars to feed the fermentation process. In a time of intense price volatility, we work hard to create the right incentives so farmers decide to deliver only red cherries day after day. We also have rigorous sorting protocols in place starting in farmers’ gardens, and at every stage from our buying centres, throughout processing and all the way to export preparation.

Whilst quality is at the centre of their coffee production, The Coffee Gardens team work holistically to contribute to positive local development. With clearly defined objectives, they strive to improve farmers income and livelihoods, create and provide rural employment, promote gender equality, increase transparency and traceability throughout the supply chain, promote and work on environmental protection in the area and provide farmer training in Good Agricultural Practises (GAP).

The Coffee Gardens also incentivise and reward farmers through a number of different monetary and non-monetary ways. These include post-season bonuses, additional income-generating and employment opportunities, tree distribution and a range of all-year-round training programs. The Coffee Gardens is transparent with their partner farmers about buying policy and prices, providing each registered farmer with a contract and a buying-record book, communicating any price changes via SMS to registered farmers, and providing receipts for every transaction.

In their own words

We are more than a coffee buyer, processor and exporter. For our farmers, we try to be a reliable and consistent partner the whole year round. When we are not buying coffee, we deliver trainings and implement development projects.

When we consider impact, we think about economic, social and environmental elements - and these are all intertwined. A farmer with low income levels and limited savings may find it hard to follow sustainable practices and invest in their gardens. Instead, farmers may prioritise finding quick sources of income to meet urgent needs. So. by approaching the needs of farmers holistically, we are working to create long-term change.

You can find out more about their vision, impact and methods here.

We have been following the work of TCG for some time and are very excited to finally add one of their delicious coffees to our offering. We deeply respect and admire their dedication and work in producing excellent coffee whilst supporting rural communities and protecting the environment. We hope you enjoy this tasty lot all the more having learnt their wonderful story.