Rwanda

Shyira

A crisp citrus-driven cup with heavy floral aromatics, in this lot from the Nyabihu region by Muraho Trading Co.

Shyira is the highest altitude of all of Muraho’s stations.
Coffee expression
A floral & acidic coffee
Whole Bean Coffee
250g (8.8oz) or 1000g (35.3oz)

Regular price: $21.00
incl. vat/tax
Sale price: $21.00
incl. vat/tax
Regular price: ~~$21.00~~
Unit price: per

Quantity must be 1 or more

Producer
Shyira Farmers

Varietal
Bourbon

Process
Washed

The cup is driven by fresh citrus, followed by heavy floral aromatics

Rwanda

Muraho Trading Co.

This is our second year working with renowned Rwandan producers Muraho Trading Co. Although we hadn’t purchased many Rwandan lots before last year, we’ve been aware of Muraho for several years now, having tasted their coffees roasted by many colleagues we admire, mainly in the southern hemisphere and the UK, but also closer to home. The coffees that Muraho produce are quite simply some of the best Rwandan lots we have tasted at La Cabra, and Gaudam and Carthick Anbalagan, the brothers that run the project, are among the most innovative producers in the country.

Gaudam and Carthick were brought up in Rwanda but moved to Wellington, New Zealand as teenagers. After the devastating effect that the 1994 Genocide had on the country, the brothers felt they had to return and be part of rebuilding and recovering the land they had always called home. So they left life in New Zealand behind, moved back to Rwanda, and started work on the project that became Muraho. Since then they have gone from strength to strength, and now own several stations throughout the coffee producing regions of Rwanda, exporting coffee to some of the world’s finest roasters. They have also innovated, having been the first to produce and export naturally processed coffees from Rwanda in 2016, after lobbying for government permission for several years.

Our second year working with Muraho Trading Co.

Nyabihu

Shyira

The Shyira Coffee Washing Station (CWS) is the highest altitude of the Muraho stations, located in the northern Nyabihu district. Shyira’s remote location also means it is the smallest station, and a big driver in the decision to build the station here was the greater impact that Muraho could have on the very rural population here. Here, their genuine drive for social change led to a focus on access to speciality coffee knowledge, and importantly pricing. Over the past couple of harvests, Shyira has also consistently produced our favourite lots out of Rwanda. The weather conditions here are perfect for both production and processing, the volcanic soils are healthy, and of course the high altitude leads to slow maturing, sugar-rich cherries. This washed lot has a clear citrus acidity, backed up by a deep white sugar sweetness and the typical heavily savoury, almost musk-like herbal aromatics we often find in Rwandan lots.

Technical Data

Producer
Shyira Farmers
Region
Nyabihu
Altitude
1900 masl
Varietal
Bourbon
Process
Washed
Harvest
May 2021

Washed Process

The washed process involves completely removing both the cherry and the mucilage from the outside of the parchment with the use of friction, fermentation and water. After being harvested, the coffee cherry is then sliced open by either a metal or a sharp plastic blade.

The two seeds (also known as beans) are pushed out of the cherry, which leaves the seed with mucilage as their outermost layer. It is essential in the washed process that all mucilage is removed from the seed which leaves only the flavour that developed in the cell structure of the seed prior to processing.

Shyira

Muraho Trading Co.

Shyira

Technical Data

Washed Process

Brew Guides

Guides

Equipment