Muzo - Nemba Hill

COMMUNITY: NEMBA HILL

LOCATION: GAKENKE DISTRICT, NORTHERN PROVINCE

ALTITUDE: 1800-2100 MASL

VARIETY: RED BOURBON

PROCESSES: WASHED

Tasting Notes: Red Apple, Dolce de Leche, Sweet Orange

Muzo is nestled in the rolling hills near the heart of Rwanda, about a 2 hour drive North West of the capital city. There are drastically fewer stations in this remote area of the country in comparison to famously populated districts like those immediately surrounding Lake Kivu. Nonetheless, competition remains fierce, as the Gakenke District has garnered the attention of more strictly specialty-focused stations.
Muzo is the smallest in the Baho collection, and it is very near and dear to Emmanuel as the source of some of his most prized coffees. With only 496 producers delivering, Muzo’s annual production of exportable grade coffee usually numbers just under a full container load at around 300 60kg bags. With altitudes topping out at 2000+ masl, it’s no surprise why coffees that come through this station are some of the most dynamic that we taste each season.

The Nemba Hill lot is a part of Baho’s ongoing appellation project surrounding the Muzo Station. They’re focusing on smaller lot separations by processing groups of farmers’ coffee together based on the highest quality growing areas. The hills are often initially chosen simply based on altitude; coffees within the Nemba Hill lot are all harvested from farms above 1900 masl and pack a distinct vibrancy and saturation of flavor.

This lot is the product of 11 smallholder farmer's hard work. Their names are:

CAMILE MISAGO
CASSIEN NIZEYIMANA
ISAAC BIRINGIYIKI
INNOCENT DUKUZUMUREMYI
OBED HABARUREMA
JUVENAL MUNYARUGERO
CASSIEN NABERAHO
ISSA NIRWORUSHAKO
JOEL UBAYIMFURA
ISMAEL TUYAMBAZE