Silver Oak Coffee - Single Origin: Cyiya, Red Bourbon, Rwanda

Cyiya washing station lies in the the green hills of south western Rwanda near the southern shores of lake Kivi. Owned by the Kerengera coffee company this is one of two washing stations in the area. Some 660 smallholder farmers from the local area deliver their cherries to Cyiya. Most farmers farms are less than an acre and are used to produce both coffee and subsistence crops such as maize and beans. Cherries are hand picked and delivered to the station in baskets.

Cyiya is run by Ruzindana Jonathan, a 62 year old agronomist by trade and one of the most experienced managers in Rwanda. Approximately 100 staff are employed at the station during harvest season.

Once at the station the beans are hand sorted, graded and washed before being dried on raised screens for further sorting and quality control and finally dried on raised beds. None of the pulp goes to waste as it is distributed back to the smallholder farmers for use as fertiliser.