Welcome to Burundi
At H.R.Higgins, every new coffee added to the collection is carefully chosen, often after weeks of tasting, discussion, and refinement.
This season marks something entirely new for us, our first coffee from Burundi.
Burundi remains one of the lesser-known coffee producing countries in East Africa, yet within the industry it has become increasingly respected for coffees with exceptional brightness, sweetness, and complexity. Coffee grows across steep hillsides at high altitude, often on very small family farms where production is measured not in vast estates, but in the careful work of thousands of individual growers.
Coffee from the Hills of Kayanza
Our new Burundi Giku Hill comes from Kayanza Province in the north of the country, one of Burundi’s most celebrated coffee-growing regions. Here, coffee trees grow between 1,600 and 1,700 metres above sea level amongst rolling green hills, cooler temperatures, and rich volcanic soil, conditions that allow cherries to mature slowly and develop remarkable clarity in the cup.
The communities surrounding Gikungere Hill are remote. Long stretches of dirt road connect the hills to nearby washing stations, crossing rivers and provincial borders along the way. Coffee remains the most important crop grown here, alongside corn and beans, and despite the natural beauty of the landscape, many communities still live with limited infrastructure, little access to electricity, and challenges accessing clean drinking water.
It is within these conditions that some of Burundi’s most expressive coffees are produced.
Over 150 Smallholder Farmers
More than 150 smallholder farmers contribute coffee cherries to Ninga Coffee Washing Station, where this lot is processed. Many of these producers farm only small plots of land, often with just a few hundred coffee trees each, yet together they create coffees with remarkable depth, consistency, and character.
The coffee is processed at Ninga Coffee Washing Station, which sits beside the Nkokoma River at 1,900 metres above sea level. Ninga was established after recognising that many farmers in this region were travelling long distances simply to access fair weighing scales and fair payment for their coffee cherries.
Cupped by Ted and the Roasting Team
Our Head of Coffee, Ted Mahoney, brought Burundi Giku Hill to the table after sourcing a selection of samples from Burundi to cup alongside the roasting team. As a country we had never featured before within the H.R.Higgins collection, it was important to find a coffee that truly captured both the quality and character Burundi is capable of producing.
After tasting several coffees together, Burundi Giku Hill immediately stood out.
Its brightness, structure and remarkable sweetness felt distinctive from the very first cup. Ted was particularly drawn to its elegant citrus character and tea-like finish, qualities that bring clarity and balance to the coffee whilst still allowing the sweetness of the fruit to shine through.
Bright Citrus and Stone Fruit Sweetness
In the cup, expect notes of lemon and mandarin layered with stewed peach, apricot and plum, followed by soft cane sugar sweetness and a delicate black tea finish.
Ripe cherries are delivered to Ninga by foot and bicycle before being carefully sorted, fermented, washed and dried on raised African beds. This slower drying process helps preserve clarity and sweetness, bringing balance and elegance to the final coffee.
The Work of Long Miles Coffee Project
The coffee comes through the Long Miles Coffee Project, founded by Ben and Kristy Carlson, who moved to Burundi in 2011 with the aim of helping coffee producers connect with roasters seeking exceptional quality coffee.
What began with fifty coffee growers has since grown into a network of more than 5,500 farmers across Burundi. Long Miles has played an important role in helping showcase Burundi’s potential for extraordinary coffee, whilst also supporting farming communities socially, economically and environmentally.
Long Awaited at Duke Street
Closer to home, this arrival has been particularly special for Preethi, our Duke Street Shop Manager. Burundi has long been one of her favourite coffee origins, and for some time she has been encouraging us to bring one into the collection.
Being able to finally share a Burundi coffee at H.R.Higgins feels especially fitting because of that.
Available for a Limited Time
Burundi Giku Hill represents more than simply a new arrival. It introduces a completely new origin to the H.R.Higgins collection, one with extraordinary potential, remarkable flavour, and a story we are very pleased to share.
